Immune profiling using small volume blood samples

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure provides methods, systems, devices, kits, and reagents for performing single cell sequencing (e.g., single cell RNA sequencing) from a low volume, capillary blood (or any low volume blood sample which is not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/209,229, filed on Mar. 23, 2021, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/993,541, filed on Mar. 23, 2020; the content of each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND Field

This disclosure relates generally to the field of molecular biology, and more particularly to the use of small volume of blood samples for immune profiling.

Background

Increasing evidence implicates the immune system in an overwhelming number of diseases, and distinct cell types play specific roles in their pathogenesis. Studies of peripheral blood have uncovered a wealth of associations between gene expression, environmental factors, disease risk, and therapeutic efficacy. For example, in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple mechanistic paths have been found that lead to disease, and gene expression of specific immune cell types can be used as a predictor of therapeutic non-response. Furthermore, vaccines, drugs, and chemotherapy have been shown to yield different efficacy based on time of administration, and such findings have been linked to the time-dependence of gene expression in downstream pathways. However, human immune studies of gene expression between individuals and across time remain limited to a few cell types or time points per subject, constraining our understanding of how networks of heterogeneous cells making up each individual's immune system respond to adverse events and change over time. There is a need for cost effective, easy-to-access, and non-invasive methods for immune profiling.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a first low volume, capillary blood sample (or any low volume blood sample and/or any blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) obtained from a subject at a first time point. The method can comprise diluting the first sample to obtain a first diluted sample. The method can comprise isolating first capillary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) from the first diluted sample with gradient centrifugation. The method can comprise performing single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the first cPBMCs isolated to generate first scRNA-seq data. The method can comprise determining a first scRNA profile of the subject at the first time point using the first scRNA-seq data and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the subject.

In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a second low volume, capillary blood sample obtained from a subject at a second time point. The method can comprise diluting the second sample to obtain a second diluted sample. The method can comprise isolating second cPBMCs from the second diluted sample with gradient centrifugation. The method can comprise performing scRNA-seq on the second cPBMCs isolated to generate second scRNA-seq data. The method can comprise determining a second scRNA profile of the subject at the second time point using the second scRNA-seq data and SNPs of the subject.

In some embodiments, the first time point and the second time point are about 2 hours to about 24 hours apart. In some embodiments, the subject is in a first health state at the first time point, and the subject is in a second health state at the second time point. The first health state at the first time point can comprise a first disease state of a disease, and the second health state at the second time point can comprise a second disease state of the disease. The first health state at the first time point can comprise first symptoms, and the second health state at the second time point can comprise second symptoms. The first symptoms and the second symptoms can be identical, the first symptoms and the second symptoms can be different, the first symptoms can comprise the second symptoms, and/or the second symptoms can comprise the first symptoms. The first symptoms and the second symptoms can comprise an identical symptom of different severities. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving the first health state of the subject at the first time point and the second health state of the subject at the second time point. In some embodiments, the method comprises correlating the first health state of the subject at the first time point with the first scRNA profile of the subject at the first time point. The method can comprise correlating the second health state of the subject at the second time point with the second scRNA profile of the subject at the second time point.

In some embodiments, the method comprises determining a difference between the scRNA profile of the subject at the first time point and the second scRNA profile of the subject at the second time point. The method can thereby determine one or more genes of interest. The one or more genes of interest can comprise diurnal genes. The one or more genes of interest can comprise one or more genes each with a time of day variation in the first scRNA profile and the second scRNA profile. The method can comprise designing a gene panel comprising the one or more genes of interest. The method can comprise determining a difference between the first health state of the subject at the first time point and the second health state of the subject at the second time point. In some embodiments, the method comprises correlating (i) the difference between the scRNA profile of the subject at the first time point and the second scRNA profile of the subject at the second time point and (ii) the difference between the first health state of the subject at the first time point and the second health state of the subject at the second time point.

In some embodiments, said determining comprises: performing sample demultiplexing of the first scRNA data of the subject and/or the second scRNA data of the subject using SNPs of the subject to determine the first scRNA profile of the subject and/or the second scRNA profile of the subject. In some embodiments, performing sample demultiplexing of the first scRNA data of the subject comprises: classifying scRNA-seq reads with an identical cell label in the first scRNA data as reads generated from a cell of a sample obtained from the subject based on (i) SNPs present in one or more of the scRNA-seq reads with the identical cell label and, (ii) optionally, SNPs of the subject. In some embodiments, performing the sample demultiplexing of the first scRNA data of the subject comprises: classifying scRNA-seq reads with an identical cell label in the second scRNA data as reads generated from a cell of a sample obtained from the subject based on SNPs present in one or more of the scRNA-seq reads with the identical cell label and (ii) optionally, SNPs of the subject. The SNPs of the subject can be determined using the first low volume, capillary blood sample of the subject. In some embodiments, the SNPs of the subject are determined by bulk RNA sequencing and/or scRNA sequencing. Said bulk RNA sequencing and/or scRNA sequencing can be performed using a low volume, capillary blood sample of the subject.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises: providing a plurality of low volume, capillary blood samples (or any low volume blood samples and/or any blood samples not obtained from veins or by venipuncture) obtained from a subject at a plurality of time points. The method can comprise, for each of the plurality of samples, diluting the sample to obtain a diluted sample. The method can comprise isolating capillary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs) from the diluted sample with gradient centrifugation. The method can comprise performing single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the cPBMCs isolated to generate scRNA-seq data. The method can comprise determining a scRNA profile of the subject at the time point the sample is collected from the scRNA-seq data and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the subject. The method can comprise determining one or more differences between scRNA profiles of the subject at two or more of the plurality of time points. In some embodiments, two of the plurality of time points are 2 hours to about 24 hours apart, thereby determining one or more genes of interest. The one or more genes of interest can comprise diurnal genes. The one or more genes of interest can comprise one or more genes each with a time of day variation in the scRNA profiles. The method can comprise designing a gene panel comprising the one or more genes of interest.

In some embodiments, the scRNA-seq comprises a whole transcriptome scRNA-seq. The scRNA profile can comprise a whole transcriptome profile. In some embodiments, the scRNA-seq comprises a target scRNA-seq. The scRNA profile can comprise expression information (e.g., expression profiles) of a plurality of at most 1,000 genes.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a plurality of low volume, capillary blood samples (or any low volume blood sample and/or any blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) obtained from a plurality of subjects. The method can comprise isolating immune cells from each of the plurality of samples to obtain isolated immune cells. The method can comprise pooling the isolated immune cells of the plurality of subjects to obtain pooled immune cells of the plurality of subjects. The method can comprise performing single cell sequencing on the pooled immune cells of the plurality of subjects to generate single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects. The method can comprise determining a single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects using the single cell sequence data of the plurality of subjects and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the plurality of subjects.

In some embodiments, the method comprises diluting the plurality of samples to obtain a plurality of diluted sample. Isolating the immune cells from each of the plurality of samples to obtain isolated immune cells can comprise isolating the immune cells from each of the plurality of diluted samples to obtain isolated immune cells.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a plurality of low volume, capillary blood samples (or any low volume blood samples and/or any blood samples not obtained from veins or by venipuncture) each obtained from a plurality of subjects. The method can comprise pooling the plurality of samples to obtain a pooled sample. The method can comprise isolating immune cells from the pooled sample to obtain isolated immune cells. The method can comprise performing single cell sequencing on the pooled immune cells to generate single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects. The method can comprise determining a single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects using the single cell sequence data of the plurality of subjects and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the plurality of subjects.

In some embodiments, the method comprises diluting the pooled sample to obtain a diluted sample, isolating the immune cells from the pooled sample comprises: isolating the immune cells from the diluted sample. In some embodiments, the plurality of samples is collected from the plurality of subjects within one week of each other. In some embodiments, isolating the immune cells comprises isolating the immune cells with gradient centrifugation. In some embodiments, the immune cells comprise peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), such as lymphocytes (T cells, B cells, NK cells) and monocytes.

In some embodiments, the single cell sequencing comprises ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or DNA-based sequencing (e.g., protein expression profiling), multiomics sequencing, and/or exosome sequencing. The single cell profile can comprise: an RNA expression profile, a protein expression profile, a DNA profile, a multiomics profile, and/or an exome profile.

In some embodiments, said determining comprises: performing sample demultiplexing of the single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects using SNPs of the plurality of subjects to determine the single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects. In some embodiments, performing sample demultiplexing comprises: classifying single cell sequencing reads with an identical cell in the single cell sequencing data as reads generated from a cell of a sample obtained from a subject based on (i) SNPs present in one or more of the single cell sequencing reads and (ii) optionally, SNPs of the one or more subjects of the plurality of subjects. The SNPs of one or each or the one or more subject can be determined by bulk sequencing and/or single cell sequencing. Said bulk sequencing and/or single cell sequencing can be performed using a low volume, capillary blood sample obtained from the subject.

In some embodiments, a single cell profiling of a low volume, capillary blood sample of a first subject of the plurality of subjects has been performed previously, and/or no single cell profiling of any sample or any low volume, capillary blood sample of a second subject of the plurality of subject has been performed previously.

In some embodiments, a sample (e.g., the first sample, the second sample, and/or one, one or more, or each of the plurality of samples) has a volume of about 20 μl to about 500 μl. In some embodiments, a sample is collected by a subject from which the sample is collected from. For example, the first sample is collected by the first subject, the second sample is collected by the second subject, and/or each of the plurality of samples is collected by the subject from whom the sample is obtained from. In some embodiments, a sample (e.g., the first sample, the second sample, and/or each of the plurality of samples) is collected in a non-clinical setting and/or out of clinic. In some embodiments, a sample (e.g., the first sample, the second sample, and/or each of the plurality of samples) is collected using a device comprising microneedles, a device comprising microfluidic channels, a push-button collection device, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a sample is collected from a deltoid or a finger of the subject from which the sample is collected. For example, the first sample, the second sample, and/or each of the plurality of samples is collected from a deltoid of the subject at the first time point, a deltoid of the subject at the second time point, and/or a deltoid or a finger of one of the plurality of subjects from which the sample is collected.

In some embodiments, said diluting comprises a 1:2 to 1:50 dilution. In some embodiments, said diluting comprises diluting the first sample, the second sample, and/or each of the plurality of samples having a volume of about 100 μl to about 1 ml. In some embodiments, said diluting comprises diluting using a dilution reagent. In some embodiments, the dilution reagent comprises a buffer and/or a growth medium. In some embodiments, a pH of the buffer is about 7.4. The buffer can comprise sodium chloride, potassium chloride, disodium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, or a combination thereof. A concentration of sodium chloride can be about 137 mmol/L, a concentration of potassium chloride is about 2.7 mmol/L, a concentration of disodium phosphate is about 10 mmol/L, and/or a concentration of monopotassium phosphate is about 1.8 mmol/L. The buffer can comprise phosphate-buffered saline. In some embodiments, the growth medium comprises fetal bovine serum, bovine serum albumin, a serum-free medium, a protein-free medium, a chemically-defined medium, a peptide-free medium, or a combination thereof. A concentration of the growth medium in the dilution reagent can be about 0.1% to about 10%.

In some embodiments, said isolating comprises isolating the immune cells with gradient centrifugation using a density medium with a density of about 1 g/ml to about 1.5 g/ml. A duration of the density centrifugation can be about 10 mins to about 30 mins. A speed of the density centrifugation can about 500 RPM to about 1500 RPM. In some embodiments, said isolating comprises removing a layer after gradient centrifugation comprising cPBMCs or immune cells, optionally a volume of the layer is about 500 μl to about 1500 μl. Said isolating can comprise removing red blood cells from the layer removed. Removing the red blood cells from the layer removed can comprises lysing the red blood cells.

In some embodiments, the method comprises performing cell typing, diurnal gene detection, subject specific gene detection, cell type specific gene detection, and/or pathway enrichment analysis.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a system. In some embodiments, the system comprises non-transitory memory configured to store executable instructions; and a processor (e.g., a hardware processor or a virtual processor) in communication with the non-transitory memory, the hardware processor programmed by the executable instructions to perform: receiving a profile comprising a single cell ribonucleic acid (scRNA) profile of each of a plurality of subjects determined using any of any method of the present disclosure. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: matching a first scRNA profile of a first subject of the plurality of subjects determined from a first sample obtained at a first time point and a second scRNA profile of a second subject of the plurality of subjects determined from a second sample obtained at a second time point. The first time point can be prior to the second time point. A first profile of the first subject can comprise a first action performed by the first subject and a first associated outcome occurred subsequent to the action being performed. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: generating a report or an output (e.g., a file or a visual output) comprising the second scRNA profile, the first action performed by the first subject, the first associated outcome, representations (e.g., visual representations and/or non-visual representations) of one or more of the preceding, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a system. In some embodiments, the system comprises: non-transitory memory configured to store executable instructions and a reference profile comprising a reference single cell profile of each of a plurality of reference subjects determined whether using any method of the disclosure, the reference profile of the reference subject comprises a reference action performed by the reference subject and an associated reference outcome occurred subsequent to the action being performed. The system can comprise a hardware processor in communication with the non-transitory memory, the hardware processor programmed by the executable instructions to perform: receiving a test single cell profile of a test subject determined using any method of the disclosure. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: matching the test single cell profile of the test subject to a reference profile of one of the plurality of reference subjects. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: generating a report or an output (e.g., a file, or a visual output) comprising the test single cell profile, the reference action performed by the reference subject whose reference single cell profile is matched to the test single cell profile, the associated reference outcome, representations (e.g., visual representations and/or non-visual representations) of one or more of the preceding, or a combination thereof.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a system. In some embodiments, the system comprises: non-transitory memory configured to store executable instructions and a reference profile comprising a reference single cell profile of each of a plurality of reference subjects determined whether using any method of the disclosure, the reference profile of the reference subject comprises a reference action performed by the reference subject and an associated reference outcome occurred subsequent to the action being performed; and a hardware processor in communication with the non-transitory memory, the hardware processor programmed by the executable instructions to perform: receiving a test single cell profile of a test subject determined using any method of the disclosure. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: matching the test single cell profile of the test subject to one or more references profile of one or more of the plurality of reference subjects. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: generating a user interface or a report comprising the test single cell profile, the reference action performed by each of the reference subjects whose reference single cell profiles are matched to the test single cell profile, and/or the associated reference outcomes.

In some embodiments, the hardware processor is programmed by the executable instructions to perform: receiving an action of the test subject and an associated test outcome. The hardware processor can be programmed by the executable instructions to perform: storing the action of the test subject and the associated test outcome in the non-transitory memory. In some embodiments, said matching comprises matching using supervised learning, unsupervised learning, or a combination thereof In some embodiments, the action comprises a non-medical action, a medical action, lack of action, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the outcome comprises a positive health outcome. In some embodiments, the outcome comprises a negative health outcome.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of one or more reagents (e.g., a dilution reagent) or devices (e.g., a device for collecting capillary blood) for performing any method of the disclosure. The present disclosure also provides embodiments of a kit comprising one or more reagents for performing any method of the disclosure.

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Neither this summary nor the following detailed description purports to define or limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-E show an exemplary experimental workflow and consistency of capillary blood sampling. FIG. 1A shows an exemplary experimental workflow for capillary blood immune profiling 1. Blood is collected using the TAP device from the deltoid. 2. Capillary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (CPBMCs) are separated via centrifugation. 3. Red blood cells are lysed and removed, and samples from different subjects are pooled together. 4. Cell transcriptomes are sequenced using single-cell sequencing. FIG. 1B shows a time-course study design. CPBMCs are collected and profiled from 4 subjects (2 male, 2 female) each morning (AM) and afternoon (PM) for 3 consecutive days. FIG. 1C shows a 2-dimensional t-SNE projection of the transcriptomes of all cells in all samples. Cells appear to cluster by major cell type (FIG. 9 ). FIG. 1D shows immune cell type percentages across all samples shows stable cell type abundances (includes cells without subject labels). FIG. 1E shows that cell type ratios between capillary blood from this study, and venous blood from 3 other studies were the same, with the exception of CD14+ Monocytes, which are more abundant in venous blood (FDR<0.05, 2-sided student t-test, multiple comparison corrected). The q-values are displayed for each cell type comparison.

FIGS. 2A-D show diurnal variability in subpopulations of capillary blood. FIG. 2A shows magnitude (Z-score) of the difference in AM vs PM gene expression across the whole population of cells (x) vs the cell type with the largest magnitude Z-score (y). Points above or below the significance lines (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison correction) display different degrees of diurnality. The size of each marker indicates the abundance of the gene (the largest percent of cells in a subpopulation that express this gene). In FIG. 2B, distribution of expression of DDIT4, a previously identified circadian rhythm gene9, shows diurnal signal across all cells, as well as individual cell types, such as natural killer (NK) cells. u indicates the mean fraction of transcripts per cell (gene abundance). FIG. 2C shows example of newly identified diurnal genes, LSP1 and IFI16 that could be missed if analyzed at the population level. FIG. 2D shows that an example of a gene, EAF2, that could be falsely classified as diurnal (i) without considering cell type subpopulations due to a diurnal B cell abundance shift (ii).

FIGS. 3A-C show subject variability in immune and disease-relevant genes and pathways. In FIG. 3A, magnitude (log₂ F statistic) of the variability in expression of genes between different cell types (x) and between subjects (y). 1284/7034 (18.3%) of genes are above the subject specificity significance line (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison correction) and are classified as subject-specific. Several MEW class II genes (HLA-X) are strongly subject-specific, consistent with previous findings. FIG. 3B shows KEGG pathways grouped into categories and their enrichment (Z-score from 2-proportion Z-test) among the top 250 diurnally and subject-varying genes vs all genes. Immune system and disease pathways are significantly enriched (p=0.029), supportive of the conclusion that immune and disease-related genes are highly subject dependent. The large circles indicate the enrichment of the category overall, and the sizes of the smaller pathway points indicate the number of genes associated with the pathway. FIG. 3C shows subject and cell type specific gene examples for each subject and cell type with the upper row displaying the trace of mean gene expression across time-points and the bottom row showing gene abundance shifts for the subjects of interest.

FIG. 4 shows cell type marker gene expression in cell clusters Violin plots of log-normalized gene expression (y-axis, right hand side) for cell type markers (y-axis, left hand side) used to annotate cell clusters (x-axis) for known cell types. The colors correlate to clusters from FIG. 1D.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show that S100 pathway exhibits individual-specific regulation. FIG. 5A is a schematic illustration for the role of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 genes in immune regulation. FIG. 5B show normalized mean gene expression of S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 genes for S2 showing significant downregulation in monocytes as compared to all cells.

FIG. 6 shows characterization of debris removal pipeline across each time sample. Scatter plots of the total number of transcripts (UMIs) detected for each barcode (x-axis), and the ratio of transcripts that are mitochondrial (y-axis). These barcodes are the union of barcodes called by 10× Cellranger and our debris filtering pipeline. Barcodes colored red were flagged as debris and removed. The debris filtering pipeline appears to detect barcodes that have both a low transcript count, and a high mitochondrial gene ratio, or a rare number of cells that appear to have 0 mitochondrial genes. The counts of barcodes removed for each sample are in Table 6.

FIG. 7 shows comparison of individual specificity by cell type vs in simulated bulk data. Magnitude (log₂ F statistic) of the variability in expression of genes between subjects, accounting for each cell type separately (y) and in simulated bulk (x). 1284/7034 (18.3%) of genes are above the subject specificity significance line (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison corrected) and are classified as subject-specific. Of these, only 637/1284 (49.6%) are also detected as subject-specific when simulating bulk RNA reads, despite the significantly lower multiple comparison correction burden (7034 tests as compared to 28,136 tests in the cell type case).

FIG. 8A-B show merged projections of capillary and venous blood cells. Capillary blood cells from this study (n=22) and venous blood cells from 3 other studies (n=11) were projected into a joint latent space using scVI. In FIG. 8A, agglomerative clustering with n=13 clusters was performed to identify cell types, and annotated using known cell type markers. In FIG. 8B, capillary blood cells cluster together with venous blood cells, with the exception of one cluster of B cells unique to capillary cells, as well as 3 cell types unique to the venous blood sample: red blood cells, dendritic cells, and neutrophils, which are likely filtered out via laboratory procedures and the computational debris filtering pipeline.

FIG. 9 shows that immune cell type clusters detected in capillary blood. 2-dimensional t-SNE projection of the transcriptomes of all cells in all samples obtained from agglomerative clustering of latent gene expression. Cell clusters were annotated and grouped based on the markers presented in Table 2. Small unidentifiable clusters were are not included in the figure.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an illustrative computing system configured to implement any method of the present disclosure.

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers may be re-used to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments can be utilized, and other changes can be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein and made part of the disclosure herein.

All patents, published patent applications, other publications, and sequences from GenBank, and other databases referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety with respect to the related technology.

An individual's immune system is driven by both genetic and environmental factors that vary over time. As described herein (including Example 1), a platform was developed to leverage multiplexed single-cell sequencing and out-of-clinic capillary blood extraction to enable simplified, cost-effective profiling of the human immune system across people and time at single-cell resolution. The methods, systems and platforms disclosed herein enables better understanding of the temporal and inter-individual variability of gene expression within distinct immune cell types. As shown in Example 1, widespread differences in cell type-specific gene expression were detected between subjects that are stable over multiple days.

The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has enabled the interrogation of heterogeneous cell populations in blood without cell type isolation and has already been employed in the study of myriad immune-related diseases. Recent studies employing scRNA-seq to study the role of immune cell subpopulations between healthy and ill patients, such as those for Crohn's disease, Tuberculosis, and COVID-19, have identified cell type-specific disease relevant signatures in peripheral blood immune cells; however, these types of studies have been limited to large volume venous blood draws which can tax already ill patients, reduce the scope of studies to populations amenable to blood draws, and often require larger research teams to handle the patient logistics and sample processing costs and labor. In particular, getting repeated venous blood draws within a single day and/or multiple days at the subject's home has been a challenge for older people with frail skin and those on low dosage Acetylsalicylic acid. This dependence on venous blood dramatically limits our ability to understand the high temporal dynamics of health and disease. Capillary blood sampling is being increasingly used in point-of-care testing and has been advised for obese, elderly, and other patients with fragile or inaccessible veins. The reduction of patient burden via capillary blood sampling can enable performing studies on otherwise difficult or inaccessible populations, and at greater temporal resolution. Additionally, capillary blood can be comparable to traditional venous blood draws for a variety of applications. However, to date, scRNA-seq of human capillary blood has not yet been validated nor applied to study the immune system. In order to make small volumes of capillary blood (100 ul) amenable to scRNA-seq, as described herein (including this example), a platform which consists of a painless vacuum-based blood collection device, sample de-multiplexing leveraging commercial genotype data, and an analysis pipeline used to identify time-of-day and subject specific genes was developed. The methods, systems and platforms disclosed herein enable large scale studies of immune state variation in health and disease across people, for example using small volume of blood samples and/or blood samples that are not from venous blood draws. The high-dimensional temporal transcriptome data can be paired with computational approaches to predict and understand emergence of pathological immune states. In addition, the methods, systems and platforms disclosed in make collection and profiling of human immune cells less invasive, less expensive and as such more scalable than traditional methods rooted in large venous blood draws.

Single Cell Sequencing

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (or single cell sequencing or profiling). In some embodiments, the method comprises providing, receiving, or causing to obtain a first low volume, capillary blood sample (or any low volume blood sample and/or any blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) obtained from a subject at a first time point. The method can comprise diluting the first sample to obtain a first diluted sample. The method can comprise isolating first cells of interest, such as first capillary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs), from the first diluted sample with gradient centrifugation. The method can comprise performing sequencing, such as single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq), on the first cPBMCs isolated to generate first scRNA-seq data. The method can comprise determining a first single cell profile, such as a first scRNA profile, of the subject at the first time point using the first single cell sequencing data, such as first scRNA-seq data, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the subject.

In some embodiments, the method comprises providing, receiving, or causing to obtain a second low volume, capillary blood sample obtained (or any low volume blood sample and/or any blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) from a subject at a second time point. The method can comprise diluting the second sample to obtain a second diluted sample. The method can comprise isolating second immune cells such as cPBMCs from the second diluted sample with gradient centrifugation. The method can comprise performing single cell sequencing, such as scRNA-seq, on the second cPBMCs isolated to generate second scRNA-seq data. The method can comprise determining a second single cell profile, such as a second scRNA profile, of the subject at the second time point using the second single cell sequencing data, such as scRNA-seq data, and SNPs of the subject.

The first time point and the second time point (or any time points when two samples are collected, whether from the same subject or from different time points) can be different or the same. In some embodiments, the first time point and the second time point (or any time points when two samples are collected, whether from the same subject or from different time points) can be, be about, be at least, be at least about, be at most, or be at most about, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, 12 hours, 13 hours, 14 hours, 15 hours, 16 hours, 17 hours, 18 hours, 19 hours, 20 hours, 21 hours, 22 hours, 23 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 15 days, 16 days, 17 days, 18 days, 19 days, 20 days, 21 days, 22 days, 23 days, 24 days, 25 days, 26 days, 27 days, 28 days, 29 days, 30 days, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months, 11 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, or a number or a range between any two of these values, apart. For example, the first time point and the second time point are about 2 hours to about 24 hours apart.

In some embodiments, the subject is in a first health state at a first time point, and the subject is in a second health state at a second time point. The first health state at the first time point can comprise a first state, such as a first disease state of a disease, and the second health state at the second time point can comprise a first state, such as a second disease state of the disease. The first health state at the first time point can comprise a state, such as a disease state of a first disease, and the second health state at the second time point can comprise a state, such as a disease state of second disease. The first state and the second state can be different. The first disease and the second disease can be different. A state or a disease can be, for example, a cancer, a non-cancer disease, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's Disease, dementia, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, pain, high blood pressure, stress, or insomnia. A state or a disease may require medical intervention. A state or a disease may not require medical intervention. The first health state at the first time point can comprise first symptoms. The second health state at the second time point can comprise second symptoms. A symptom can be, for example, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, or diarrhea. A symptom can be, for example, pain, weight loss without trying, fatigue, fever, changes in skin, sores that don't heal, cough or hoarseness that does not go away, unusual bleeding, or anemia. A symptom can be, for example, memory loss. The first symptoms and the second symptoms can be identical. The first symptoms and the second symptoms can be different. The first symptoms can comprise the second symptoms. The second symptoms can comprise the first symptoms. The first symptoms and the second symptoms can comprise an identical symptom of different severities. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving the first health state of the subject at the first time point and the second health state of the subject at the second time point. In some embodiments, the method comprises correlating (e.g., performing an analysis, such as statistical analysis, or using machine learning) the first health state of the subject at the first time point with the first single cell profile, such as scRNA profile, of the subject at the first time point. The method can comprise correlating (e.g., performing an analysis, such as statistical analysis, or using machine learning) the second health state of the subject at the second time point with the second single cell profile, such as scRNA profile, of the subject at the second time point.

In some embodiments, the method comprises determining a difference between the single cell profiles of a subject at different time points, such as the scRNA profile of the subject at the first time point and the second scRNA profile of the subject at the second time point, or single cell profiles of two subjects at the same or similar time point or different time point. Any differences between two single cell profiles, such as scRNA profiles, can be performed in a reduced dimensionality space. The dimensionality of the space can be, for example, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 30, 40, 50, or more. Differences between two single cell profiles (or single cell profiles, such as mRNA expression profiles, proteomics profiles, or multiomics profiles) can be determined as described in U.S. Application Publication No. 2020/0090782, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In some embodiments, the method comprises correlating (i) the difference between the scRNA profile of the subject at the first time point and the second scRNA profile of the subject at the second time point and (ii) the difference between the first health state of the subject at the first time point and the second health state of the subject at the second time point.

The method can thus be used to determine one or more genes of interest, such as those disclosed in the present disclosure or those described in Dobreva, T, et al. Single cell profiling of capillary blood enables out of clinic human immunity studies. Sci Rep 10, 20540 (2020), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The one or more genes of interest can comprise diurnal genes, such as those disclosed in the present disclosure or those described in Dobreva, T, et al. The one or more genes of interest can comprise one or more genes each with a time of day variation (e.g., morning, noon, afternoon, or evening) in two single cell profiles of a subject, such as the first scRNA profile and the second scRNA profile of the subject. The method can comprise designing a gene panel comprising the one or more genes of interest. The number of genes of interest (or the number of genes that are diurnal or with time of day variation) can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the number of genes of interest (or the number of genes that are diurnal or with time of day variation) is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, or a number or a range between any two of these values. The number of genes (or the number of genes that are diurnal or with time of day variation) in the gene panel is different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the number of genes in the gene panel is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, or a number or a range between any two of these values. The method can comprise determining a difference between the first health state of the subject at the first time point and the second health state of the subject at the second time point.

In some embodiments, determining a single cell profile can comprise performing sample demultiplexing on single cell sequencing data. In some embodiments, determining a single cell profile can comprise determining one or more scRNA profile. Determining a first scRNA profile and/or a second scRNA profile comprises performing sample demultiplexing of the first scRNA data of the subject and/or the second scRNA data of the subject using SNPs of the subject to determine the first scRNA profile of the subject and/or the second scRNA profile of the subject. In some embodiments, performing sample demultiplexing of the first scRNA data of the subject comprises: classifying scRNA-seq reads with an identical cell label in the first scRNA data as reads generated from a sample obtained from the subject based on (i) SNPs present in one or more of the scRNA-seq reads with the identical cell label and, (ii) optionally, SNPs of the subject. SNPs in reads having a first identical cell label can be compared with SNPs in reads having a second identical cell label. If SNPs present in reads having the first cell label and the SNPs present in reads having the second cell label are identical or similar (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more), the reads are generated from two cells from one subject. If SNPs present in reads having the first cell label and the SNPs present in reads having the second cell label are dissimilar (e.g., 90%, 89%, 88%, 87%, 86%, or less), the reads are generated from two cells from two subjects. In some embodiments, performing the sample demultiplexing of the first scRNA data of the subject comprises: classifying scRNA-seq reads with an identical cell label in the second scRNA data as originating from a sample obtained from the subject based on SNPs present in one or more of the scRNA-seq reads with the identical cell label and (ii) optionally, SNPs of the subject. Reads can be classifying by performing an analysis of the reads, such as a statistical analysis, or using a machine learning model. The SNPs of the subject can be determined using the first low volume, capillary blood sample of the subject. In some embodiments, the SNPs of the subject are determined by bulk RNA sequencing and/or scRNA sequencing. Said bulk RNA sequencing and/or scRNA sequencing can be performed using a low volume, capillary blood sample (or a low volume blood sample, or a blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) of the subject. The number of SNPs used to determine scRNA profiles (e.g., SNPs present in one or more of scRNA-seq reads or SNPs the subject has and used to determine scRNA profiles) can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the number of SNPs is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, or a number or a range between any two of these values.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell sequencing, such as single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises: providing a plurality of low volume, capillary blood samples (or any low volume blood samples and/or any blood samples not obtained from veins or by venipuncture) obtained from a subject at a plurality of time points. The method can comprise, for each of the plurality of samples, diluting the sample to obtain a diluted sample. The method can comprise isolating cells of interest, such as immune cells or capillary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (cPBMCs), from the diluted sample with gradient centrifugation. The method can comprise performing single cell sequencing, such as single cell ribonucleic acid sequencing (scRNA-seq) on the cells of interest, such as immune cells or cPBMCs isolated to generate scRNA-seq data. The method can comprise determining a single cell profile, such has a scRNA profile, of the subject at the time point the sample is collected from the single cell sequencing data, such as scRNA-seq data, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the subject. The method can comprise determining one or more differences between single cell profiles, such as scRNA profiles, of the subject at two or more of the plurality of time points. Any two time points can be, be about, be at least, be at least about, be at most, or be at most about, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, 12 hours, 13 hours, 14 hours, 15 hours, 16 hours, 17 hours, 18 hours, 19 hours, 20 hours, 21 hours, 22 hours, 23 hours, 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, 7 days, 8 days, 9 days, 10 days, 11 days, 12 days, 13 days, 14 days, 15 days, 16 days, 17 days, 18 days, 19 days, 20 days, 21 days, 22 days, 23 days, 24 days, 25 days, 26 days, 27 days, 28 days, 29 days, 30 days, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months, 11 months, 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, or a number or a range between any two of these values, apart. For example, any two time points are 2 hours to about 24 hours apart. The method can thus be used to determine one or more genes of interest, such as those disclosed in the present disclosure or those described in Dobreva, T, et al. The one or more genes of interest can comprise diurnal genes, such as those disclosed in the present disclosure or those described in Dobreva, T, et al. The one or more genes of interest can comprise one or more genes each with a time of day variation (e.g., morning, noon, afternoon, or evening) in the scRNA profiles, such as those disclosed in the present disclosure or those described in Dobreva, T, et al. The method can comprise designing a gene panel comprising the one or more genes of interest.

In some embodiments, the scRNA-seq comprises a whole transcriptome RNA sequencing. The scRNA profile can comprise a whole transcriptome profile. In some embodiments, the scRNA-seq comprises a target scRNA-seq. In some embodiments, the single cell sequencing comprises ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or DNA-based sequencing (e.g., protein expression profiling), multiomics sequencing, and/or exosome sequencing. The single cell profile can comprise: an RNA expression profile, a protein expression profile, a DNA profile, a multiomics profile, and/or an exome profile. The single cell profile, such as scRNA profile, can comprise expression information (e.g., expression profiles) of a plurality of genes, such as 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000, or more or fewer genes.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a plurality of low volume, capillary blood samples (or any low volume blood sample and/or any blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) obtained from a plurality of subjects. Each of the plurality of samples can be obtained from a different subject. Two or more of the plurality of samples can be obtained from one subject at different time points or the same or similar time points. The method can comprise isolating immune cells from each of the plurality of samples to obtain isolated immune cells. The method can comprise pooling the isolated immune cells of the plurality of subjects to obtain pooled immune cells of the plurality of subjects. The method can comprise performing single cell sequencing on the pooled immune cells of the plurality of subjects to generate single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects. The method can comprise determining a single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects using the single cell sequence data of the plurality of subjects and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the plurality of subjects.

In some embodiments, the method comprises diluting the plurality of samples to obtain a plurality of diluted sample. Isolating the immune cells from each of the plurality of samples to obtain isolated immune cells can comprise isolating the immune cells from each of the plurality of diluted samples to obtain isolated immune cells.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method for single cell sequencing. In some embodiments, the method comprises providing a plurality of low volume, capillary blood samples (or any low volume blood samples and/or any blood samples not obtained from veins or by venipuncture) each obtained from a plurality of subjects. The method can comprise pooling the plurality of samples to obtain a pooled sample. The method can comprise isolating immune cells from the pooled sample to obtain isolated immune cells. The method can comprise performing single cell sequencing on the pooled immune cells to generate single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects. The method can comprise determining a single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects using the single cell sequence data of the plurality of subjects and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the plurality of subjects.

In some embodiments, the method comprises diluting the pooled sample to obtain a diluted sample. Isolating the immune cells from the pooled sample can comprise isolating the immune cells from the diluted sample. In some embodiments, the plurality of samples is collected from the plurality of subjects within 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, five days, 6 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 1 month, of each other. In some embodiments, samples are collected from two subjects within 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, five days, 6 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 1 month, of each other. Sample demultiplexing based on SNPs can be used differentiate cells from different subjects without sample indexing or tagging (antibody-based or chemical-based sample indexing or tagging) of cells from different samples. In some embodiments, isolating the immune cells comprises isolating the immune cells with gradient centrifugation. In some embodiments, the immune cells comprise peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), such as lymphocytes (T cells, B cells, NK cells) and monocytes.

In some embodiments, the single cell sequencing comprises ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing or profiling, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing or profiling, DNA-based sequencing or profiling (such as protein expression profiling), multiomics sequencing or profiling, and/or exosome sequencing. The single cell profile can comprise: an RNA expression profile, a protein expression profile, a DNA profile, a multiomics profile, and/or an exome profile.

In some embodiments, determining the single cell profile comprises performing sample demultiplexing of the single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects using SNPs of the plurality of subjects to determine the single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects. In some embodiments, performing sample demultiplexing comprises classifying single cell sequencing reads with an identical cell in the single cell sequencing data as reads generated from a cell of a sample obtained from a subject based on (i) SNPs present in one or more of the single cell sequencing reads and (ii) optionally, SNPs of the one or more subjects of the plurality of subjects. Reads can be classifying by performing an analysis pf the reads, such as a statistical analysis, or using a machine learning model. SNPs in reads having a first identical cell label can be compared with SNPs in reads having a second identical cell label. If SNPs present in reads having the first cell label and the SNPs present in reads having the second cell label are identical or similar (e.g., 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or more), the reads are generated from two cells from one subject. If SNPs present in reads having the first cell label and the SNPs present in reads having the second cell label are dissimilar (e.g., 90%, 89%, 88%, 87%, 86%, or less), the reads are generated from two cells from two subjects. The SNPs of one or each or the one or more subject can be determined by bulk sequencing and/or single cell sequencing. Said bulk sequencing and/or single cell sequencing can be performed using a low volume, capillary blood sample (or a low volume blood sample, or a blood sample not obtained from a vein or by venipuncture) obtained from the subject. The number of SNPs used to determine single cell profiles (e.g., SNPs present in one or more of single cell sequencing reads or SNPs a subject has and used to determine single cell profiles) can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the number of SNPs is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, or a number or a range between any two of these values.

In some embodiments, a single cell profiling of a low volume, capillary blood sample of a first subject of the plurality of subjects has been performed previously. No single cell profiling of any sample or any low volume, capillary blood sample of a second subject of the plurality of subject may have been performed previously.

The volume of a sample can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the volume of a sample can be, be about, be at least, be at least about, be at most, or be at most about, 10 μl, 15 μl, 20 μl, 25 μl, 30 μl, 35 μl, 40 μl, 45 μl, 50 μl, 55 μl, 60 μl, 65 μl, 70 μl, 75 μl, 80 μl, 85 μl, 90 μl, 95 μl, 100 μl, 105 μl, 110 μl, 115 μl, 120 μl, 125 μ, 130 μl, 135 μl, 140 μl, 145 μl, 150 μl, 155 μl, 160 μl, 165 μl, 170 μl, 175 μl, 180 μl, 185 μl, 190 μl, 195 μl, 200 μl, 210 μl, 220 μl, 230 μl, 240 μl, 250 μl, 260 μl, 270 μl, 280 μl, 290 μl, 300 μl, 310 μl, 320 μl, 330 μl, 340 μl, 350 μl, 360 μl, 370 μl, 380 μl, 390 μl, 400 μl, 410 μl, 420 μl, 430 μl, 440 μl, 450 μl, 460 μl, 470 μl, 480 μl, 490 μl, 500 μl, 510 μl, 520 μl, 530 μl, 540 μl, 550 μl, 560 μl, 570 μl, 580 μl, 590 μl, 600 μl, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, a sample (e.g., the first sample, the second sample, and/or one, one or more, or each of the plurality of samples) has a volume of about 20 μl to about 500 μl.

In some embodiments, a sample is collected by a subject from which the sample is collected from. For example, the first sample is collected by the first subject. For example, the second sample is collected by the second subject. For example, one, one or more, or each of the plurality of samples is collected by the subject from whom the sample is obtained from. In some embodiments, a sample (e.g., the first sample, the second sample, and/or one, one or more, or each of the plurality of samples) is collected in a non-clinical setting and/or out of clinic. In some embodiments, a sample (e.g., the first sample, the second sample, and/or one, or one or more, or each of the plurality of samples) is collected using a device comprising microneedles, a device comprising microfluidic channels, a push-button collection device, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, a sample is collected from a deltoid or a finger of the subject from which the sample is collected. For example, the first sample, is collected from a deltoid of the subject at the first time point. For example, the second sample is collected from a deltoid or finger of the subject at the second time point. For example, one, one or more, or each of the plurality of samples is collected from a deltoid or a finger of a subject from which the sample is collected.

The dilution of a sample (or a pooled sample) can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the dilution of a sample (or a pooled sample) is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4, 1:5, 1:6, 1:7, 1:8, 1:9, 1:10, 1:11, 1:12, 1:13, 1:14, 1:15, 1:16, 1:17, 1:18, 1:19, 1:20, 1:21, 1:22, 1:23, 1:24, 1:25, 1:26, 1:27, 1:28, 1:29, 1:30, 1:31, 1:32, 1:33, 1:34, 1:35, 1:36, 1:37, 1:38, 1:39, 1:40, 1:41, 1:42, 1:43, 1:44, 1:45, 1:46, 1:47, 1:48, 1:49, 1:50, 1:51, 1:52, 1:53, 1:54, 1:55, 1:56, 1:57, 1:58, 1:59, 1:60, 1:61, 1:62, 1:63, 1:64, 1:65, 1:66, 1:67, 1:68, 1:69, 1:70, 1:71, 1:72, 1:73, 1:74, 1:75, 1:76, 1:77, 1:78, 1:79, 1:80, 1:81, 1:82, 1:83, 1:84, 1:85, 1:86, 1:87, 1:88, 1:89, 1:90, 1:91, 1:92, 1:93, 1:94, 1:95, 1:96, 1:97, 1:98, 1:99, 1:100, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, the dilution of a sample (or a pooled sample) is about 1:2 to about 1:50. The volume of a diluted sample can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the volume of a diluted sample is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 0.5 ml, 0.6 ml, 0.7 ml, 0.8 ml, 0.9 ml, 1 ml, 1.1 ml, 1.2 ml, 1.3 ml, 1.4 ml, 1.5 ml, 1.6 ml, 1.7 ml, 1.8 ml, 1.9 ml, 2 ml, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, the volume of a sample is about 100 μl, and the sample is diluted to about 1 ml.

In some embodiments, a sample is diluted using a dilution reagent. The dilution reagent comprises a buffer and/or a growth medium. The pH of the buffer (or the dilution reagent) can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the pH of the buffer (or the dilution reagent) is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 6, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9, 7, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, 7.6, 7.7, 7.8, 7.9, 8, 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.5, 8.6, 8.7, 8.8, 8.9, 9.0, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, the pH of the buffer is about 7.4. The buffer can comprise one or more components, such as salts. For example, the buffer comprises sodium chloride, potassium chloride, disodium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, or a combination thereof. The buffer can comprise phosphate-buffered saline.

The concentration of a component of the buffer can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the concentration of a component of the buffer is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 0.1 mmol/L, 0.2 mmol/L, 0.3 mmol/L, 0.4 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, 0.6 mmol/L, 0.7 mmol/L, 0.8 mmol/L, 0.9 mmol/L, 1 mmol/L, 1.1 mmol/L, 1.2 mmol/L, 1.3 mmol/L, 1.4 mmol/L, 1.5 mmol/L, 1.6 mmol/L, 1.7 mmol/L, 1.8 mmol/L, 1.9 mmol/L, 2 mmol/L, 2.1 mmol/L, 2.2 mmol/L, 2.3 mmol/L, 2.4 mmol/L, 2.5 mmol/L, 2.6 mmol/L, 2.7 mmol/L, 2.8 mmol/L, 2.9 mmol/L, 3 mmol/L, 3.1 mmol/L, 3.2 mmol/L, 3.3 mmol/L, 3.4 mmol/L, 3.5 mmol/L, 3.6 mmol/L, 3.7 mmol/L, 3.8 mmol/L, 3.9 mmol/L, 4 mmol/L, 4.1 mmol/L, 4.2 mmol/L, 4.3 mmol/L, 4.4 mmol/L, 4.5 mmol/L, 4.6 mmol/L, 4.7 mmol/L, 4.8 mmol/L, 4.9 mmol/L, 5 mmol/L, 6 mmol/L, 7 mmol/L, 8 mmol/L, 9 mmol/L, 10 mmol/L, 11 mmol/L, 12 mmol/L, 13 mmol/L, 14 mmol/L, 15 mmol/L, 16 mmol/L, 17 mmol/L, 18 mmol/L, 19 mmol/L, 20 mmol/L, 21 mmol/L, 22 mmol/L, 23 mmol/L, 24 mmol/L, 25 mmol/L, 26 mmol/L, 27 mmol/L, 28 mmol/L, 29 mmol/L, 30 mmol/L, 31 mmol/L, 32 mmol/L, 33 mmol/L, 34 mmol/L, 35 mmol/L, 36 mmol/L, 37 mmol/L, 38 mmol/L, 39 mmol/L, 40 mmol/L, 41 mmol/L, 42 mmol/L, 43 mmol/L, 44 mmol/L, 45 mmol/L, 46 mmol/L, 47 mmol/L, 48 mmol/L, 49 mmol/L, 50 mmol/L, 51 mmol/L, 52 mmol/L, 53 mmol/L, 54 mmol/L, 55 mmol/L, 56 mmol/L, 57 mmol/L, 58 mmol/L, 59 mmol/L, 60 mmol/L, 61 mmol/L, 62 mmol/L, 63 mmol/L, 64 mmol/L, 65 mmol/L, 66 mmol/L, 67 mmol/L, 68 mmol/L, 69 mmol/L, 70 mmol/L, 71 mmol/L, 72 mmol/L, 73 mmol/L, 74 mmol/L, 75 mmol/L, 76 mmol/L, 77 mmol/L, 78 mmol/L, 79 mmol/L, 80 mmol/L, 81 mmol/L, 82 mmol/L, 83 mmol/L, 84 mmol/L, 85 mmol/L, 86 mmol/L, 87 mmol/L, 88 mmol/L, 89 mmol/L, 90 mmol/L, 91 mmol/L, 92 mmol/L, 93 mmol/L, 94 mmol/L, 95 mmol/L, 96 mmol/L, 97 mmol/L, 98 mmol/L, 99 mmol/L, 100 mmol/L, 101 mmol/L, 102 mmol/L, 103 mmol/L, 104 mmol/L, 105 mmol/L, 106 mmol/L, 107 mmol/L, 108 mmol/L, 109 mmol/L, 110 mmol/L, 111 mmol/L, 112 mmol/L, 113 mmol/L, 114 mmol/L, 115 mmol/L, 116 mmol/L, 117 mmol/L, 118 mmol/L, 119 mmol/L, 120 mmol/L, 121 mmol/L, 122 mmol/L, 123 mmol/L, 124 mmol/L, 125 mmol/L, 126 mmol/L, 127 mmol/L, 128 mmol/L, 129 mmol/L, 130 mmol/L, 131 mmol/L, 132 mmol/L, 133 mmol/L, 134 mmol/L, 135 mmol/L, 136 mmol/L, 137 mmol/L, 138 mmol/L, 139 mmol/L, 140 mmol/L, 141 mmol/L, 142 mmol/L, 143 mmol/L, 144 mmol/L, 145 mmol/L, 146 mmol/L, 147 mmol/L, 148 mmol/L, 149 mmol/L, 150 mmol/L, 151 mmol/L, 152 mmol/L, 153 mmol/L, 154 mmol/L, 155 mmol/L, 156 mmol/L, 157 mmol/L, 158 mmol/L, 159 mmol/L, 160 mmol/L, 161 mmol/L, 162 mmol/L, 163 mmol/L, 164 mmol/L, 165 mmol/L, 166 mmol/L, 167 mmol/L, 168 mmol/L, 169 mmol/L, 170 mmol/L, 171 mmol/L, 172 mmol/L, 173 mmol/L, 174 mmol/L, 175 mmol/L, 176 mmol/L, 177 mmol/L, 178 mmol/L, 179 mmol/L, 180 mmol/L, 181 mmol/L, 182 mmol/L, 183 mmol/L, 184 mmol/L, 185 mmol/L, 186 mmol/L, 187 mmol/L, 188 mmol/L, 189 mmol/L, 190 mmol/L, 191 mmol/L, 192 mmol/L, 193 mmol/L, 194 mmol/L, 195 mmol/L, 196 mmol/L, 197 mmol/L, 198 mmol/L, 199 mmol/L, 200 mmol/L, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, a concentration of sodium chloride can be about 137 mmol/L, a concentration of potassium chloride is about 2.7 mmol/L, a concentration of disodium phosphate is about 10 mmol/L, and/or a concentration of monopotassium phosphate is about 1.8 mmol/L. The concentration of a component of the buffer can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the concentration of a component of the buffer is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 0.1 g/L, 0.2 g/L, 0.3 g/L, 0.4 g/L, 0.5 g/L, 0.6 g/L, 0.7 g/L, 0.8 g/L, 0.9 g/L, 1 g/L, 1.1 g/L, 1.2 g/L, 1.3 g/L, 1.4 g/L, 1.5 g/L, 1.6 g/L, 1.7 g/L, 1.8 g/L, 1.9 g/L, 2 g/L, 2.1 g/L, 2.2 g/L, 2.3 g/L, 2.4 g/L, 2.5 g/L, 2.6 g/L, 2.7 g/L, 2.8 g/L, 2.9 g/L, 3 g/L, 3.1 g/L, 3.2 g/L, 3.3 g/L, 3.4 g/L, 3.5 g/L, 3.6 g/L, 3.7 g/L, 3.8 g/L, 3.9 g/L, 4 g/L, 4.1 g/L, 4.2 g/L, 4.3 g/L, 4.4 g/L, 4.5 g/L, 4.6 g/L, 4.7 g/L, 4.8 g/L, 4.9 g/L, 5 g/L, 5.1 g/L, 5.2 g/L, 5.3 g/L, g/L, 5.5 g/L, 5.6 g/L, 5.7 g/L, 5.8 g/L, 5.9 g/L, 6 g/L, 6.1 g/L, 6.2 g/L, 6.3 g/L, 6.4 g/L, 6.5 g/L, 6.6 g/L, 6.7 g/L, 6.8 g/L, 6.9 g/L, 7 g/L, 7.1 g/L, 7.2 g/L, 7.3 g/L, 7.4 g/L, 7.5 g/L, 7.6 g/L, 7.7 g/L, 7.8 g/L, 7.9 g/L, 8 g/L, 8.1 g/L, 8.2 g/L, 8.3 g/L, 8.4 g/L, 8.5 g/L, 8.6 g/L, 8.7 g/L, 8.8 g/L, 8.9 g/L, 9 g/L, 9.1 g/L, 9.2 g/L, 9.3 g/L, 9.4 g/L, 9.5 g/L, 9.6 g/L, 9.7 g/L, 9.8 g/L, 9.9 g/L, g/L, 11 g/L, 12 g/L, 13 g/L, 14 g/L, 15 g/L, 16 g/L, 17 g/L, 18 g/L, 19 g/L, 20 g/L, 21 g/L, 22 g/L, 23 g/L, 24 g/L, 25 g/L, 26 g/L, 27 g/L, 28 g/L, 29 g/L, 30 g/L, or a number or a range between any two of these values.

In some embodiments, the growth medium comprises fetal bovine serum. The growth medium can comprise bovine serum albumin. The growth medium can comprise a serum-free medium. The growth medium can comprise a protein-free medium. The growth medium can comprise a chemically-defined medium. The growth medium can comprise a peptide-free medium. The concentration of a growth medium can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the concentration of a growth medium (e.g., v/v, w/v, or w/w) can be, be about, be at least, be at least about, be at most, or be at most about, 0.1%, 0.2%, %, 0.4%, 0.5%, 0.6%, 0.7%, 0.8%, 0.9%, 1%, 1.1%, 1.2%, 1.3%, 1.4%, 1.5%, 1.6%, 1.7%, 1.8%, 1.9%, 2%, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4%, 2.5%, 2.6%, 2.7%, 2.8%, 2.9%, 3%, 3.1%, 3.2%, 3.3%, 3.4%, 3.5%, 3.6%, 3.7%, 3.8%, 3.9%, 4%, 4.1%, 4.2%, 4.3%, 4.4%, 4.5%, 4.6%, 4.7%, 4.8%, 4.9%, 5%, 5.1%, 5.2%, 5.3%, 5.4%, 5.5%, 5.6%, 5.7%, 5.8%, %, 6%, 6.1%, 6.2%, 6.3%, 6.4%, 6.5%, 6.6%, 6.7%, 6.8%, 6.9%, 7%, 7.1%, 7.2%, 7.3%, 7.4%, 7.5%, 7.6%, 7.7%, 7.8%, 7.9%, 8%, 8.1%, 8.2%, 8.3%, 8.4%, 8.5%, 8.6%, 8.7%, 8.8%, 8.9%, 9%, 9.1%, 9.2%, 9.3%, 9.4%, 9.5%, 9.6%, 9.7%, 9.8%, 9.9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, t concentration of the growth medium in the dilution reagent can be about 0.1% v/v to about 10% v/v.

In some embodiments, isolating cells of interest (or immune cells or cPBMCs) comprises isolating cells of interest with gradient centrifugation. A density medium can be used for gradient centrifugation. The density of the density medium can be, be about, be at least, be at least about, be at most, or be at most about, 0.9 g/ml, 0.91 g/ml, 0.92 g/ml, 0.93 g/ml, 0.94 g/ml, g/ml, 0.96 g/ml, 0.97 g/ml, 0.98 g/ml, 0.99 g/ml, 1 g/ml, 1.01 g/ml, 1.02 g/ml, 1.03 g/ml, 1.04 g/ml, 1.05 g/ml, 1.06 g/ml, 1.07 g/ml, 1.08 g/ml, 1.09 g/ml, 1.1 g/ml, 1.11 g/ml, 1.12 g/ml, 1.13 g/ml, 1.14 g/ml, 1.15 g/ml, 1.16 g/ml, 1.17 g/ml, 1.18 g/ml, 1.19 g/ml, 1.2 g/ml, 1.21 g/ml, 1.22 g/ml, 1.23 g/ml, 1.24 g/ml, 1.25 g/ml, 1.26 g/ml, 1.27 g/ml, 1.28 g/ml, 1.29 g/ml, 1.3 g/ml, 1.31 g/ml, 1.32 g/ml, 1.33 g/ml, 1.34 g/ml, 1.35 g/ml, 1.36 g/ml, 1.37 g/ml, 1.38 g/ml, 1.39 g/ml, 1.4 g/ml, 1.41 g/ml, 1.42 g/ml, 1.43 g/ml, 1.44 g/ml, 1.45 g/ml, 1.46 g/ml, 1.47 g/ml, 1.48 g/ml, 1.49 g/ml, 1.5 g/ml, 1.51 g/ml, 1.52 g/ml, 1.53 g/ml, 1.54 g/ml, 1.55 g/ml, 1.56 g/ml, 1.57 g/ml, 1.58 g/ml, 1.59 g/ml, 1.6 g/ml, 1.61 g/ml, 1.62 g/ml, 1.63 g/ml, 1.64 g/ml, 1.65 g/ml, 1.66 g/ml, 1.67 g/ml, 1.68 g/ml, 1.69 g/ml, 1.7 g/ml, 1.71 g/ml, 1.72 g/ml, 1.73 g/ml, 1.74 g/ml, 1.75 g/ml, 1.76 g/ml, 1.77 g/ml, 1.78 g/ml, 1.79 g/ml, 1.8 g/ml, 1.81 g/ml, 1.82 g/ml, 1.83 g/ml, 1.84 g/ml, 1.85 g/ml, 1.86 g/ml, 1.87 g/ml, 1.88 g/ml, 1.89 g/ml, 1.9 g/ml, 1.91 g/ml, 1.92 g/ml, 1.93 g/ml, 1.94 g/ml, 1.95 g/ml, 1.96 g/ml, 1.97 g/ml, 1.98 g/ml, 1.99 g/ml, 2 g/ml. For example, the density of the density medium is about 1 g/ml to about 1.5 g/ml.

The duration of the density centrifugation can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the duration of the density centrifugation is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 5 minutes, 6 minutes, 7 minutes, 8 minutes, 9 minutes, 10 minutes, 11 minutes, 12 minutes, 13 minutes, 14 minutes, 15 minutes, 16 minutes, 17 minutes, 18 minutes, 19 minutes, 20 minutes, 21 minutes, 22 minutes, 23 minutes, 24 minutes, 25 minutes, 26 minutes, 27 minutes, 28 minutes, 29 minutes, 30 minutes, 31 minutes, 32 minutes, 33 minutes, 34 minutes, 35 minutes, 36 minutes, 37 minutes, 38 minutes, 39 minutes, 40 minutes, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, the duration of the density centrifugation is about 10 mins to about 30 mins.

The speed of the density centrifugation can be different in different embodiments. The speed of the density centrifugation can be, be about, be at least, be at least about, be at most, or be at most about, 400 RPM, 450 RPM, 500 RPM, 550 RPM, 600 RPM, 650 RPM, 700 RPM, 750 RPM, 800 RPM, 850 RPM, 900 RPM, 950 RPM, 1000 RPM, 1050 RPM, 1100 RPM, 1150 RPM, 1200 RPM, 1250 RPM, 1300 RPM, 1350 RPM, 1400 RPM, 1450 RPM, 1500 RPM, 1550 RPM, 1600 RPM, 1650 RPM, 1700 RPM, 1750 RPM, 1800 RPM, 1850 RPM, 1900 RPM, 1950 RPM, 2000 RPM, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, the speed of the density centrifugation is about 500 RPM to about 1500 RPM. In some embodiments, isolating cells of interest comprises removing a layer after gradient centrifugation comprising the cells of interest (e.g., immune cells or cPBMCs)

The volume of the layer with cells of interest and removed can be different in different embodiments. In some embodiments, the volume of the layer with cells of interest and removed is, is about, is at least, is at least about, is at most, or is at most about, 400 μl, 410 μl, 420 μl, 430 μl, 440 μl, 450 μl, 460 μl, 470 μl, 480 μl, 490 μl, 500 μl, 510 μl, 520 μl, 530 μl, 540 μl, 550 μl, 560 μl, 570 μl, 580 μl, 590 μl, 600 μl, 610 μl, 620 μl, 630 μl, 640 μl, 650 μl, 660 μl, 670 μl, 680 μl, 690 μl, 700 μl, 710 μl, 720 μl, 730 μl, 740 μl, 750 μl, 760 μl, 770 μl, 780 μl, 790 μl, 800 μl, 810 μl, 820 μl, 830 μl, 840 μl, 850 μl, 860 μl, 870 μl, 880 μl, 890 μl, 900 μl, 910 μl, 920 μl, 930 μl, 940 μl, 950 μl, 960 μl, 970 μl, 980 μl, 990 μl, 1000 μl, 1050 μl, 1100 μl, 1150 μl, 1200 μl, 1250 μl, 1300 μl, 1350 μl, 1400 μl, 1450 μl, 1500 μl, 1550 μl, 1600 μl, 1650 μl, 1700 μl, 1750 μl, 1800 μl, 1850 μl, 1900 μl, 1950 μl, 2000 μl, or a number or a range between any two of these values. For example, the volume of the layer with cells of interest removed is about 500 μl to about 1500 μl. Isolating cells of interest can comprise removing red blood cells from the layer with cells of interest and removed. Removing the red blood cells from the layer with cells of interest and removed can comprises lysing the red blood cells.

In some embodiments, the method of single cell sequencing comprises performing cell typing. The method can comprise performing diurnal gene detection. The method can comprise performing subject specific gene detection. The method can comprise performing cell type specific gene detection. The method can comprise performing pathway enrichment analysis.

Disclosed herein include embodiments of one or more reagents (e.g., a dilution reagent) or devices (e.g., a device for collecting capillary blood) for performing any method of the disclosure. The present disclosure also provides embodiments of a kit comprising one or more reagents for performing any method of the disclosure.

Matching

Disclosed herein include embodiments of a method of matching single cell profiles, such as scRNA profiles. In some embodiments, a system can perform the matching method. In some embodiments, the system comprises non-transitory memory configured to store executable instructions; and a processor (e.g., a hardware processor or a virtual processor) in communication with the non-transitory memory, the hardware processor programmed by the executable instructions to perform the matching method. The method can include receiving a profile comprising a single cell profile, such as a single cell ribonucleic acid (scRNA) profile, of each of a plurality of subjects determined using any of any method of the present disclosure. The method can include matching a first single cell profile, such as a first scRNA profile, of a first subject of the plurality of subjects determined from a first sample obtained at a first time point and a second single cell profile, such as a second scRNA profile, of a second subject of the plurality of subjects determined from a second sample obtained at a second time point. The first time point can be prior to the second time point. A first profile of the first subject can comprise a first action performed by the first subject and a first associated outcome occurred subsequent to the action being performed. The method can include generating a report or an output (e.g., a file or a visual output) comprising the second single cell profile, such as the second scRNA profile, the first action performed by the first subject, the first associated outcome, representations (e.g., visual representations and/or non-visual representations) of one or more of the preceding, or a combination thereof. The method can include displaying or causing to display the report or the output.

In some embodiments, a system for matching single cell profiles can perform a matching method. The system can comprise non-transitory memory configured to store executable instructions and a reference profile comprising a reference single cell profile of each of a plurality of reference subjects determined whether using any method of the disclosure. The reference profile of the reference subject can comprise a reference action performed by the reference subject and an associated reference outcome occurred subsequent to the action being performed. The method can include receiving a test single cell profile of a test subject determined using any method of the disclosure. The method can include matching the test single cell profile of the test subject to a reference profile of one of the plurality of reference subjects. The matching method can include generating a report or an output (e.g., a file, or a visual output) comprising the test single cell profile, the reference action performed by the reference subject whose reference single cell profile is matched to the test single cell profile, the associated reference outcome, representations (e.g., visual representations and/or non-visual representations) of one or more of the preceding, or a combination thereof. The method can include displaying or causing to display the report or the output.

In some embodiments, a system for matching single cell profiles can perform a matching method. The system can comprise: non-transitory memory configured to store executable instructions and a reference profile comprising a reference single cell profile of each of a plurality of reference subjects determined whether using any method of the disclosure. The reference profile of the reference subject can comprise a reference action performed by the reference subject and an associated reference outcome occurred subsequent to the action being performed. The method can include receiving a test single cell profile of a test subject determined using any method of the disclosure. The method can include matching the test single cell profile of the test subject to one or more references profile of one or more of the plurality of reference subjects. The method can include generating a report or an output (e.g., a file, or a visual output) comprising the test single cell profile, the reference action performed by each of the reference subjects whose reference single cell profiles are matched to the test single cell profile, and/or the associated reference outcomes. The method can include displaying or causing to display the report or the output.

In some embodiments, the method can include receiving an action of the test subject and an associated test outcome. The method can include storing the action of the test subject and the associated test outcome in the non-transitory memory. Matching can be performed using supervised learning, unsupervised learning, or a combination thereof. Matching can be performed using a machine learning model.

In some embodiments, the action comprises a medical action, such as taking a prescription drug or a non-prescription drug or a surgical intervention. The action can comprise a non-medical action, such as lifestyle changes and self-care to promote wellness (e.g., diet, exercise, psychotherapy, relationship and spiritual counseling). An action can include one or more alternative therapies (e.g., acupuncture, chiropractic care, homeopathy, massage therapy, naturopathy). The action can be lack of action or inaction. In some embodiments, the outcome can include a change in health positively or negatively. A change in health can be a chance in physical health, intellectual health, emotional health, social health, and/or mental health. The outcome can comprise a positive health outcome, such as no or decrease in physical illness, disease, injury, mental stress, wellness, pain and discomfort. A positive health outcome can include achieving and maintaining a healthy lifestyle by being physically fit and having good mental health. In some embodiments, the outcome comprises a negative health outcome, such as presence or increase in physical illness, disease, injury, mental stress, wellness pain and discomfort.

Machine Learning Model

Machine learning models can be used with any method of the present disclosure, such as sample demultiplexing, matching single cell profiles, determining differences in single cell profiles. Non-limiting examples of machine learning models includes scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT), speeded up robust features (SURF), oriented FAST and rotated BRIEF (ORB), binary robust invariant scalable keypoints (BRISK), fast retina keypoint (FREAK), Viola-Jones algorithm, Eigenfaces approach, Lucas-Kanade algorithm, Horn-Schunk algorithm, Mean-shift algorithm, visual simultaneous location and mapping (vSLAM) techniques, a sequential Bayesian estimator (e.g., Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter, etc.), bundle adjustment, adaptive thresholding (and other thresholding techniques), Iterative Closest Point (ICP), Semi Global Matching (SGM), Semi Global Block Matching (SGBM), Feature Point Histograms, various machine learning algorithms (such as e.g., support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors algorithm, Naive Bayes, neural network (including convolutional or deep neural networks), or other supervised/unsupervised models, etc.), and so forth.

Once trained, a machine learning model can be stored in a computing system (e.g., the computing system 1000 described with reference to FIG. 10 ). Some examples of machine learning models can include supervised or non-supervised machine learning, including regression models (such as, for example, Ordinary Least Squares Regression), instance-based models (such as, for example, Learning Vector Quantization), decision tree models (such as, for example, classification and regression trees), Bayesian models (such as, for example, Naive Bayes), clustering models (such as, for example, k-means clustering), association rule learning models (such as, for example, a-priori models), artificial neural network models (such as, for example, Perceptron), deep learning models (such as, for example, Deep Boltzmann Machine, or deep neural network), dimensionality reduction models (such as, for example, Principal Component Analysis), ensemble models (such as, for example, Stacked Generalization), and/or other machine learning models.

A layer of a neural network (NN), such as a deep neural network (DNN) can apply a linear or non-linear transformation to its input to generate its output. A neural network layer can be a normalization layer, a convolutional layer, a softsign layer, a rectified linear layer, a concatenation layer, a pooling layer, a recurrent layer, an inception-like layer, or any combination thereof. The normalization layer can normalize the brightness of its input to generate its output with, for example, L2 normalization. The normalization layer can, for example, normalize the brightness of a plurality of images with respect to one another at once to generate a plurality of normalized images as its output. Non-limiting examples of methods for normalizing brightness include local contrast normalization (LCN) or local response normalization (LRN). Local contrast normalization can normalize the contrast of an image non-linearly by normalizing local regions of the image on a per pixel basis to have a mean of zero and a variance of one (or other values of mean and variance). Local response normalization can normalize an image over local input regions to have a mean of zero and a variance of one (or other values of mean and variance). The normalization layer may speed up the training process.

A convolutional neural network (CNN) can be a NN with one or more convolutional layers, such as, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or more. The convolutional layer can apply a set of kernels that convolve its input to generate its output. The softsign layer can apply a softsign function to its input. The softsign function (softsign(x)) can be, for example, (x/(1+|x|)). The softsign layer may neglect impact of per-element outliers. The rectified linear layer can be a rectified linear layer unit (ReLU) or a parameterized rectified linear layer unit (PReLU). The ReLU layer can apply a ReLU function to its input to generate its output. The ReLU function ReLU(x) can be, for example, max(0, x). The PReLU layer can apply a PReLU function to its input to generate its output. The PReLU function PReLU(x) can be, for example, x if x≥0 and ax if x<0, where a is a positive number. The concatenation layer can concatenate its input to generate its output. For example, the concatenation layer can concatenate four 5×5 images to generate one 20×20 image. The pooling layer can apply a pooling function which down samples its input to generate its output. For example, the pooling layer can down sample a 20×20 image into a 10×10 image. Non-limiting examples of the pooling function include maximum pooling, average pooling, or minimum pooling.

At a time point t, the recurrent layer can compute a hidden state s(t), and a recurrent connection can provide the hidden state s(t) at time t to the recurrent layer as an input at a subsequent time point t+1. The recurrent layer can compute its output at time t+1 based on the hidden state s(t) at time t. For example, the recurrent layer can apply the softsign function to the hidden state s(t) at time t to compute its output at time t+1. The hidden state of the recurrent layer at time t+1 has as its input the hidden state s(t) of the recurrent layer at time t. The recurrent layer can compute the hidden state s(t+1) by applying, for example, a ReLU function to its input. The inception-like layer can include one or more of the normalization layer, the convolutional layer, the softsign layer, the rectified linear layer such as the ReLU layer and the PReLU layer, the concatenation layer, the pooling layer, or any combination thereof.

The number of layers in the NN can be different in different implementations. For example, the number of layers in a NN can be 10, 20, 30, 40, or more. For example, the number of layers in the DNN can be 50, 100, 200, or more. The input type of a deep neural network layer can be different in different implementations. For example, a layer can receive the outputs of a number of layers as its input. The input of a layer can include the outputs of five layers. As another example, the input of a layer can include 1% of the layers of the NN. The output of a layer can be the inputs of a number of layers. For example, the output of a layer can be used as the inputs of five layers. As another example, the output of a layer can be used as the inputs of 1% of the layers of the NN.

The input size or the output size of a layer can be quite large. The input size or the output size of a layer can be n×m, where n denotes the width and m denotes the height of the input or the output. For example, n or m can be 11, 21, 31, or more. The channel sizes of the input or the output of a layer can be different in different implementations. For example, the channel size of the input or the output of a layer can be 4, 16, 32, 64, 128, or more. The kernel size of a layer can be different in different implementations. For example, the kernel size can be n×m, where n denotes the width and m denotes the height of the kernel. For example, n or m can be 5, 7, 9, or more. The stride size of a layer can be different in different implementations. For example, the stride size of a deep neural network layer can be 3, 5, 7 or more.

In some embodiments, a NN can refer to a plurality of NNs that together compute an output of the NN. Different NNs of the plurality of NNs can be trained for different tasks. A processor (e.g., a processor of the computing system 1000 descried with reference to FIG. 10 ) can compute outputs of NNs of the plurality of NNs to determine an output of the NN. For example, an output of a NN of the plurality of NNs can include a likelihood score. The processor can determine the output of the NN including the plurality of NNs based on the likelihood scores of the outputs of different NNs of the plurality of NNs.

Execution Environment

FIG. 10 depicts a general architecture of an example computing device 1000 that can be used in some embodiments to execute the processes and implement the features described herein. The general architecture of the computing device 1000 depicted in FIG. 10 includes an arrangement of computer hardware and software components. The computing device 1000 may include many more (or fewer) elements than those shown in FIG. 10 . It is not necessary, however, that all of these generally conventional elements be shown in order to provide an enabling disclosure. As illustrated, the computing device 1000 includes a processing unit 1010, a network interface 1020, a computer readable medium drive 1030, an input/output device interface 1040, a display 1050, and an input device 1060, all of which may communicate with one another by way of a communication bus. The network interface 1020 may provide connectivity to one or more networks or computing systems. The processing unit 1010 may thus receive information and instructions from other computing systems or services via a network. The processing unit 1010 may also communicate to and from memory 1070 and further provide output information for an optional display 1050 via the input/output device interface 1040. The input/output device interface 1040 may also accept input from the optional input device 1060, such as a keyboard, mouse, digital pen, microphone, touch screen, gesture recognition system, voice recognition system, gamepad, accelerometer, gyroscope, or other input device.

The memory 1070 may contain computer program instructions (grouped as modules or components in some embodiments) that the processing unit 1010 executes in order to implement one or more embodiments. The memory 1070 generally includes RAM, ROM and/or other persistent, auxiliary or non-transitory computer-readable media. The memory 1070 may store an operating system 1072 that provides computer program instructions for use by the processing unit 1010 in the general administration and operation of the computing device 1000. The memory 1070 may further include computer program instructions and other information for implementing aspects of the present disclosure.

For example, in one embodiment, the memory 1070 includes a single cell sequencing module 1074 for performing single cell sequencing, processing single cell sequencing data, generating single cell profiles, and/or analyzing, matching, and/or differentiating single cell profiles. The memory 1070 may additionally or alternatively include a reporting or user interface module 1076 for generating, outputting, and/or displaying results of the present disclosure, such as results of single cell sequencing, single cell sequencing data, single cell profiles, and matched single cell profiles, and actions by subjects, and associated outcomes. In addition, memory 1070 may include or communicate with the data store 1090 and/or one or more other data stores that store single cell sequencing data, single cell profiles, and/or actions performed by subjects and associated outcomes.

EXAMPLES

Some aspects of the embodiments discussed above are disclosed in further detail in the following examples, which are not in any way intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

Example 1 Single Cell Profiling of Capillary Blood Enables out of Clinic Human Immunity Studies

This example demonstrates that capillary blood can be used for collection and profiling of human immune cells, which is less invasive, less expensive and more scalable than the traditional methods relying on large venous blood draws.

Methods

Human Study Cohort: Four healthy adults (2 male, 2 female) were recruited (Table 3). All participants provided written informed consent. The blood collection took place in a non-BSL room to make sure the subjects were not exposed to pathogens. Subject blood was collected roughly 8 hours apart over three consecutive days.

CPBMC isolation: 100 μl of capillary blood was collected via push-button collection device (TAP from Seventh Sense Biosystems). For each blood draw, the site of collection was disinfected with an alcohol wipe and the TAP device was placed on the deltoid of the subject per device usage instructions. The button was pushed, and then blood was collected for 2-7 minutes until the indicator turned red. Blood was extracted from the TAP device by gently breaking the seal foil, and mixed with PBS+2% FBS to 1 ml. The mixture was slowly added to the side of a SepMate tube (SepMate-15 IVD, Stem Cell Technologies) containing 4.5 ml of Lymphoprep (#07811, Stem Cell Technologies) and centrifuged for 20 minutes at 800 RPM. Approximately 900 μl of CPBMC layer was extracted below the plasma layer. To further remove red blood cells, 100 μl of red blood cell lysis buffer (eBioscience 10×RBC Lysis Buffer, #00-4300-54) was added to the CPBMCs and incubated at RT for 15 minutes. The CPBMC pellet was washed twice with PBS and centrifuged at 400 rpm for 5 minutes. Cells were counted using trypan blue via an automated detector (Countess II Automated Cell Counter) and subjects' cells were pooled together for subsequent single-cell RNA sequencing.

Single-cell RNA sequencing: Subject pooled single-cell suspensions were loaded onto a Chromium Single Cell Chip (10×Genomics) based on manufacturer's instructions (targeted 10,000 cells per sample, 2,500 cells per person per time point). Captured mRNA was barcoded during cDNA synthesis and pooled for Illumina sequencing (Chromium Single Cell 3′ solution—10X Genomics). Each time point was barcoded with a unique Illumina sample index, and then pooled together for sequencing in a single Illumina flow cell. The libraries were sequenced with an 8-base index read, 26-base read 1 containing cell-identifying barcodes and unique molecular identifiers (UMIs), and a 91-base read 2 containing transcript sequences on a NovaSeq 6000.

Single-cell Dataset Generation: FASTQ files from Illumina were demultiplexed and aligned using Cell Ranger v3.0 (support.10xgenomics.com/single-cell-gene-expression/software/pipelines/latest/what-is-cell-ranger, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) and the hg19 (human) reference genome with all options set to their defaults.

Sample Demultiplexing: FASTQ files from the single-cell sequencing Illumina libraries were aligned against the hg19 (human) reference genome using Cellranger v3.0 count function. SNPs were detected in the aligned data using freebayes (github.com/ekg/freebayes, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), which creates a combined variant call format (VCF) file, one per sample. SNPs were then grouped by cell barcode using popscle dsc-pileup (github.com/statgen/popscle, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). The SNP files for all samples were then merged into a single dsc-pileup file, and cell barcodes were disambiguated by providing a unique identifier per sample. Freemuxlet (popscle freemuxlet) was then run with default parameters to group cells into 4 subjects. This generates a probability of whether each cell barcode belongs to each subject, given the detection of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) in reads associated with that cell barcode. Each cell was then assigned to the subject with the highest probability. Cells with low confidence (ambiguous cells) and high confidence in more than one subject (multiplets) were discarded, using popscle's default confidence thresholds.

Debris Removal: The raw cell gene matrix provided by Cell Ranger contains gene counts for all barcodes present in the data. To remove barcodes representing empty or debris-containing droplets, a debris removal step was performed and the statistics for debris removal pipe is shown in Table 6. First, a UMI count threshold was determined that yielded more than the expected number of cells based on original cell counts (15,000). All barcodes below this threshold were discarded. For the remaining barcodes, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on the log-transformed cell gene matrix, and agglomerative clustering was used to cluster the cells. The number of clusters was automatically determined by minimizing the silhouette score among a range of numbers of clusters (6 to 15). For each cluster, a barcode dropoff trace was calculated by determining the number of barcodes remaining in the cluster for all thresholds in increments of 50. These cluster traces were then clustered into two clusters using agglomerative clustering—the two clusters representing “debris” with high barcode dropoff rates and “cells” with low barcode drop-off rates. All clusters categorized as “debris” were then removed from the data.

Gene Filtering: Before cell typing, genes that have a maximum count less than 3 are discarded. Furthermore, after cell typing, any genes that are not present in at least 10% of one or more cell types are discarded.

Data Normalization: Gene counts were normalized by dividing the number of times a particular gene appears in a cell (gene cell count) by the total gene counts in that cell. Furthermore, for visualization only, the gene counts were multiplied by a constant factor (5000), and a constant value of 1 was added to avoid zeros and then log transformed.

Cell Typing: Single cell Variational Inference (scVI) was used to transform the raw cell gene expression data into a 10-dimensional variational autoencoder latent space. The variational autoencoder is conditioned on sample batch, creating a latent space which is independent of any batch-specific effects. The variational auto-encoder parameters: learning rate=1e−3, number of epochs=50 Agglomerative clustering (sci-kit learn) was used to generate clusters from the latent cell gene expression data. These clusters were then annotated based on known cell type marker genes (FIG. 4 ).

In order to resolve specific cell subtypes, such as those of T cells and Monocytes, 13-15 clusters were specified as an input for agglomerative clustering. Each study was started at 13 clusters and incremented until all 4 major cell types and 2 subtypes were separable. In cases where agglomerative clustering yielded multiple clusters of the same cell type, these clusters were merged into a single cell type for analysis.

Venous and Capillary Blood Comparison: In order to compare venous blood cell type distributions to capillary blood, raw gene count data was downloaded from each of the respective studies, and we performed the same cell typing pipeline as for our capillary data, first projecting the data into a latent space via scVI, followed by agglomerative clustering and manual annotation based on known cell type marker genes.

Diurnal Gene Detection: To identify genes that exhibit diurnal variation in distinct cell types, a statistical procedure was developed to detect robust gene expression differences between morning (AM) and evening (PM) samples. Given that gene expression is different between subjects, the mean gene expression within each subject was normalized for each cell type.

$\begin{matrix} {\mu_{g_{i},s_{j},c_{n},k}^{\prime} = {\mu_{g_{i},s_{j},c_{n},k} - \left( {\frac{{\sum}_{k = 1}^{N_{s_{j}}}1_{k \in {AM}}\mu_{g_{i},s_{j},c_{n},k}}{2{\sum}_{k = 1}^{N_{s_{j}}}1_{k \in {AM}}} + \frac{{\sum}_{k = 1}^{N_{s_{j}}}1_{k \in {PM}}\mu_{g_{i},s_{j},c_{n},k}}{2{\sum}_{k = 1}^{N_{s_{j}}}1_{k \in {PM}}}} \right)}} & \left( {{Eq}.1} \right) \end{matrix}$

The mean gene expression μ was taken for each gene g_(i) in all samples k for cell type c_(n) and subject s_(j) and renormalize it into μ′ by subtracting the equally weighted mean of AM and PM samples (Eq. 1). The mean gene values were then split into an AM group and a PM group and perform a statistical test (two-tailed student-t test) to determine whether to reject the null hypothesis that gene expression in AM and PM samples come from the same distribution. Benjamini-Hochberg multiple comparison correction was performed at an FDR of 0.05 on all gene and cell type p-values to determine where to plot the significance threshold. For plotting the genes, the Z-statistic corresponding to the minimum p-value among cell types for that gene was chosen. To determine diurnality at the population level, the procedure above was repeated with all cells pooled into a single cell type.

Subject and Cell Type Specific Gene Detection: To classify genes as subject specific, genes with mean gene expression levels that are robustly different between subjects in at least one cell type were detected. For each cell type c_(n) and gene g_(i), subject groups containing the mean gene expression values were created from each sample. To determine whether the gene expression means from the different subjects do not originate from the same distribution, an ANOVA one-way test was performed to get an F-statistic and p-value for each gene. Benjamini-Hochberg multiple comparison correction was then performed at an FDR of 0.05 on all gene and cell type p-values. For plotting the genes, the F-statistic corresponding to the minimum p-value among cell types was chosen for that gene.

For determining gene cell type specificity, a similar procedure was performed. In particular, for each gene g_(i), cell type groups containing the mean gene expression values for that cell type were created from each sample. A one-way ANOVA, and Benjamini-Hochberg multiple comparison correction were performed at an FDR of 0.05.

Pathway Enrichment Analysis: Pathways from the KEGG database (python bioservices package) were used to calculate pathway enrichment for genes that were among the top 250 most diurnal and individual specific. All remaining genes present in the data were considered background. In order to normalize for gene presence across pathways, each gene was weighted by dividing the number of pathways in which that gene appears. For each KEGG pathway, the test statistic for a two-proportion z-test (python statsmodel v0.11.1) is used to determine pathway enrichment. From the top level pathway classes, “Diseases” were broken out into “Other”, “Immune Diseases”, and “Infectious Diseases” and separated “Immune System” from “Organismal System” to understand diurnal and subject-specific genes in an immune relevant context.

Results

Platform for low-cost interrogation of single-cell immune gene expression profiles: The platform disclosed in the present example comprises a protocol for isolating capillary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (CPBMCs) using a touch activated phlebotomy device (TAP), pooling samples to reduce per-sample cost using genome-based demultiplexing, and a computational package that leverages repeated sampling to identify genes that are differentially expressed in individuals or between time points, within subpopulations of cells (FIG. 1A). Using a painless vacuum-based blood collection device such as the commercial FDA-approved TAP to collect capillary blood makes it convenient to perform at-home self-collected sampling and removes the need for a trained phlebotomist, increasing the ease of acquiring more samples. The isolation of CPBMCs is done using gradient centrifugation and red blood cells are further removed via a red blood cell lysis buffer. The cells from the different subjects are pooled, sequenced via scRNA-seq using a single reagent kit, and demultiplexed via each subject's single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), reducing the per-sample processing cost. By pooling the data across all 6 time points, and using a genotype-free demultiplexing software (popscle), the platform was used to identify which cells belonged to which subject across time points, removing the need for a separate genotyping assay to link subjects together across batches.

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of low volume capillary blood recovers distinct immune cell populations stably across time: scRNA-seq of capillary blood platform was used to identify genes that exhibit diurnal behavior in subpopulations of cells and find subject-specific immune relevant gene signatures. A three-day study were performed, in which capillary blood was processed from four subjects in the morning and afternoon, totaling 24,087 cells across 22 samples (FIG. 1B). Major immune cell types such as T cells (CD4⁺, CD8⁺), Natural Killer cells, Monocytes (CD14⁺, CD16⁺), and B cells are present in all subjects and time points with stable expression of key marker genes (FIG. 1D, FIG. 4 ), demonstrating that these signals are robust to technical and biological variability of CPBMC sampling (FIG. 1C). In order to compare cell type distributions derived from our method with venous blood draws, data from 11 healthy subjects provided by three independent studies were used (Table 4).

CD14⁺ Monocytes make up a higher percentage of PBMCs in venous blood (n=11) versus capillary blood (n=22) (FDR<0.05, 2-sided student t-test, multiple comparison corrected), while other cell types do not have a significant difference in distributions (FIG. 1E).

High frequency scRNA-seq unveils new diurnal cell type-specific genes: Genes driven by time-of-day expression, such as those involved in leukocyte recruitment and regulation of oxidative stress, have been determined to play an important role in both innate and adaptive immune cells. Medical conditions such as atherosclerosis, parasite infection, sepsis, and allergies display distinct time-of-day immune responses in leukocytes, suggesting the presence of diurnally expressing genes that could be candidates for optimizing therapeutic efficacy via time-of-day dependent administration. However, studies examining diurnal gene expression in human blood have been limited to whole blood gene panels via qPCR, or bulk RNA-seq.

Using the platform which enables single-cell studies of temporal human immune gene expression, 395 genes (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison corrected) exhibiting diurnal activity within at least one cell subpopulation were detected (FIG. 2A). Among the 20 top diurnally classified genes, it was found that 40% of those genes were previously correlated with circadian behavior (Table 1), such as DDIT4 (FIG. 2B), SMAP2, and PCPB1. However, only 119/395 (30.1%) of these genes were detected as diurnal at the whole population level (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison corrected), suggesting there may be many more diurnally-varying genes than previously discovered. For example, IFI16 and LSP1 (FIG. 2C) have diurnal expression only in NK cells and B cells, respectively, and display previously unreported transcriptional diurnal patterns. In particular, LSP1 has been implicated in numerous leukemias and lymphomas of B cell origin. Given previous evidence of increased efficacy of time-dependent chemotherapy administration and tumor cells exhibiting out-of-sync behavior compared to normal cells, understanding LSP1's diurnal expression pattern can potentially guide timely administration of candidate therapeutics. Out of the identified 395 diurnally-varying genes, 114 (29%) are considered druggable under the drug gene interaction database (dgidb.org).

scRNA-seq profiling distinguishes diurnal gene expression from cell type abundance changes: 406 genes (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison corrected) exhibiting diurnal behavior when analyzed at the population level, such as EAF2, that do not display diurnal variation in any of our major cell types were also detected (FIG. 2D, panel i). Such false positives may come from diurnal shifts in cell type abundance rather than up- or down-regulation of genes. In the case of EAF2, which is most abundant in B cells. Without being bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the diurnality detected at the population level was a result of an increase of B cell abundance in the afternoon, and verified this in our data (p=7.5×10⁻³, one-sided student-t test) (FIG. 2D, panel ii). This finding highlights the importance of looking at expression within multiple cell types to avoid potentially misleading mechanistic hypotheses.

Individuals exhibit robust cell type-specific differences in genes and pathways relevant to immune function: Gene expression studies of isolated cell subpopulations across large cohorts of people have revealed a high degree of variability between individuals that cannot be accounted for by genetics alone, with environmental effects that vary over time likely playing a critical role. Furthermore, these transcriptomic differences have been linked to a wide range of therapeutic responses, such as drug-induced cardiotoxicity. However, while immune system composition and expression has been shown to be stable over long time periods within an individual, acute immune responses generate dramatic immune system changes, meaning that large single time point population studies are unable to establish whether variability between individuals is stable or the result of dynamic response to stimuli.

To probe the stability of individual gene expression signatures at the single-cell level, genes whose variation in gene expression is most likely caused by intrinsic intersubject differences rather than high frequency immune system variability was identified. The mean gene expressions of all time points were compared between subjects in all cell types and identified 1284 genes (FDR<0.05, multiple comparison corrected) that are differentially expressed in at least one subpopulation of cells. It was found that MHC class II genes, such as HLA-DRB1, HLA-E, and HLA-DRA (FIG. 3A), is among the largest sources of variation between subjects. Additionally, it was found that DDX17, which was classified previously as a gene with high intersubject variability, but low intrasubject variability via repeat sampling over longer time scales, may be a new class of temporally varying gene that varies by day of week, having consistently increasing expression each subsequent sampling day. This stresses the importance of high frequency sampling for identifying genes with the most intrinsic interindividual variability.

Numerous subject-specific genes are revealed in specific immune cell types: Within the 1284 genes with intrinsic interindividual variability, myriad disease-relevant genes were found for all subjects and cell types, which can be explored at the interactive online portal (capblood-seq.caltech.edu, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety). As one example, subject S1's monocytes have a consistent downregulation (p=9.1×10⁻⁷, two-sided student t-test) of LIPA, a gene that is implicated in Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency (FIG. 3C). Given the low abundance of monocytes in blood samples, such findings would typically only be discovered from a targeted blood test or RNA sequencing of isolated monocytes, either of which would only be performed if the disease was already suspected; this showcases how automated discovery in heterogeneous cell populations can be leveraged for personalized, preventative care.

Immune function and disease pathways are enriched in subject-specific genes: Given that genes do not act alone, cell type-specific pathway differences were also found among subjects. In particular, Subject 2's S100A8, S100A9, and S100A12 genes, calcium-binding proteins that play an important role in macrophage inflammation, are significantly downregulated in monocytes (pS100A8=1.3×10⁻⁵, pS100A9=9.0×10⁻⁵, pS100A12=3.0×10⁻⁴, two-sided student t-test) compared to other subjects (FIGS. 5A and 5B). The findings were further explored by inspecting the pathways that are most enriched in individual and time-varying genes, and it was found that genes that are implicated in immune system function (p=0.085) and immune diseases (p=0.029) are more present in subject-specific genes (FIG. 3B). This stands in contrast to pathways of core cellular functions such as genetic information processing (p=0.029) and metabolism (p=0.095), which are less present in subject-specific genes.

Discussion

Genome and transcriptome sequencing projects have unveiled millions of genetic variants and associated gene expression traits in humans. However, large-scale studies of their functional effects performed through venous blood draws require tremendous effort to undertake, and this is exacerbated by the cost and complexity of single-cell transcriptome sequencing. Efforts such as the Immune Cell Census are underway to perform single-cell profiling of large cohorts, but their reliance on venous blood draws of PBMCs will likely limit the diversity and temporal resolution of their sample pool. The method, system and platform disclosed herein (including in this example) allows direct, scalable access to high resolution immune system transcriptome information of human subjects, lowering the barrier of entry for myriad new research avenues. Non-limiting examples of the applications that the methods, platforms and system disclosed herein can be used include: (1) tracking vulnerable populations over time, (2) Profiling individuals who are under home care to track disease progression and therapeutic response, such as transplant patients and people under quarantine, and (3) Tracking how stress, diet, and environmental conditions impact the immune system at short and long time scales, particularly in underrepresented populations who do not have easy access to hospitals or research institutions, such as people in rural or underdeveloped areas. Larger, more diverse subject pools coupled with time course studies of cell type gene expression in health and disease will have a dramatic impact on our ability to understand the baseline and variability of immune function.

Code Availability

Custom code made for diurnal and subject specific gene detection is available on github.com/thomsonlab/capblood-seq, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TABLE 1 Genes that ranked in top 20 that had pre-existing literature tying to circadian/diurnal expression DOI Reference (the content of each of which is Gene incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) DDIT4 10.7554/eLife.20214.001, 10.1073/pnas.1800314115 SMAP2 10.1038/s41398-019-0671-7 RPL19 10.1128/MCB.00701-15 RPS9 10.1073/pnas.1515308112 PCPB1 10.1038/s41556-019-0441-z RPS2 10.1073/pnas.1601895113 COX5B 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00066.2007

TABLE 2 Marker genes used to annotate clusters with specified cell population identity. Cells Marker Genes CD14 Monocytes CD14, LYZ CD16 Monocytes FCGR3A, MS4A7 CD4 T Cells IL7R, CCR7 CD8 T Cells KLRG1, CD8A, CD8B Natural Killer (NK) Cells GNLY, KLRF1, KLRD1 B Cells BANK1, CD79A, CD79B, CD19

TABLE 3 Subject age and demographics. All subjects indicated to be healthy during the study. Subject Age Gender S1 32 M S2 41 M S3 34 F S4 26 F

TABLE 4 Details of studies used to get healthy venous blood single-cell RNA sequencing dataset for comparison with capillary blood. Corresponding Corresponding DOI (the content of each of which Study Subject Age Gender is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) Identification S1 21 M doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59827-1 Pre-THC-S1 S2 21 M doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-59827-1 Pre-THC-S2 S3 63 F doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abd1554 Sample 5_Normal 1 scRNA-seq [SW107] S4 54 F doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abd1554 Sample 13_Normal 2 scRNA-seq [SW115] S5 67 F doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abd1554 Sample 14_Normal 3 scRNA-seq [SW116] S6 63 M doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abd1554 Sample 19_Normal 4 scRNA-seq [SW121] S7 50 M doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907883116 CT1 S8 70 F doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907883116 CT2 S9 60 F doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907883116 CT3 S10 70 F doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907883116 CT4 S11 80 M doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1907883116 CT5

TABLE 5 Number of genes in different cell types that is specific to each subject. B Cells Monocytes NK Cells T Cells Any S1 55 67 58 269 400 S2 24 94 49 58 190 S3 55 149 70 150 353 S4 49 36 34 44 131

TABLE 6 Statistics for debris removal pipeline. Cellranger Final # Called Removed Added Cells % Removed AM1 5808 2662 21 3167 45.83 PM1 3144 1302 12 1854 41.41 AM2 8772 2037 20 6755 23.22 PM2 6172 3587 0 2585 58.12 AM3 6684 1408 10 5286 21.07 PM3 7974 2370 4 5608 29.72

TABLE 7 Diurnally-varying genes (top 20 bolded). DDIT4 RPL36AL ERGIC3 KPNA6 SESN1 ISOC2 TMEM258 TYROBP IFI16 FLOT2 ANXA5 CHCHD10 RNF125 ESYT1 COX5B MT-ND4 GIMAP6 MIR142 FBXO32 FUOM HDAC5 NCR3 RC3H1 SH2D3C TNRC6B ZBTB16 GZMK PAXIP1-AS1 RPS9 RPL35A TFEB NFE2 SRGAP2 PIM1 SNRPB SNORA76 RPL6 HAPLN3 CEBPD GABARAP MDH2 KLF6 MT-ND3 TMEM106A MT-ND5 NKG7 ZFP36 CD44 PPP1R18 PCBP1 RPS18 AKNA PLBD1 HSP90AB1 ADRB2 TKT RPS2 SERPINB1 SEC16A RPL5 ITGA4 ATP8B2 LYPLA1 ABCA2 FMNL1 CYTH4 ST3GAL5 MAN2B2 BSG MGEA5 CBFA2T2 MT-ND1 IRF4 AKAP13 TP53 KIAA0020 CHMP1B RPL19 SEC61B MORF4L1 EEF1B2 CASP2 CTSH FAM105A CDC42SE2 SF1 TRIP11 DNPH1 BRI3 PABPC1 GPR82 LMO2 FKBP5 S1PR1 CTSA C19orf10 RPL8 BCL3 RPS8 HBB SSNA1 CYSTM1 CRELD2 SEC22C AIDA CELF2 KLF4 COX4I1 CELF1 RRAGC PSD4 NBEAL2 EIF4A2 MBD6 MYD88 TSPO GNB2L1 SPG21 NDUFB8_1 GPR65 MRPL52 ANKRD49 HIVEP2 HELZ2 C3AR1 RPL14 RPS15 PPIB GPATCH4 DBP GZMH DNAJC13 RPS23 SMAP2 SAMD4B OGDH EIF4B TRANK1 SELL PRELID1 MAT2B RPL32 PPM1K ARF6 SLFN11 SMC1A SH3BP5 RPL11 USP15 TOR3A TBL1X GAPDH ADIPOR1 WDFY2 RSL1D1 RENBP ZDHHC2 TMBIM6 OSBPL10 ARL1 ARHGDIA FPR1 C16orf54 RPS24 VPS28 PIK3CD C16orf74 F8A1 LINC00649 CALR NCOA2 LINC00324 PSMA7 NMD3 C3orf62 RBM3 CBX7 POU2F2 MOB3A ZMIZ1 RASSF3 GSTP1 RPL13 CDIP1 MAP2K1 DAZAP2 CCND3 TCEAL8 AC092580.4 SREK1IP1 INPPL1 AHNAK DPH3 TIMP1 FASLG ORAI2 HSPA5 RPL39 SLA GBP4 NLRC5 ASGR1 HDAC9 RPS14 RSPH3 CLDND1 PRMT1 P2RX5 NPDC1 MLLT6 SLC25A6 SGPP1 HDAC10 CAT RPS13 UBA1 DNM2 TXNIP ITGB2 RPL28 CYB561 TNRC18 CHD7 OXNAD1 RPL7A PTBP1 SELPLG PAFAH1B2 RPL3 GAA BCL6 LIMD1 TGFBR2 ZCCHC17 SH3BP1 RPL29 IGSF6 CD99 MPEG1 ZC2HC1A NEAT1 WDR60 RPS6KA3 MSMO1 TSPAN4 CD55 TCF7 SPON2 YTHDC2 BATF RHOC VAV3 LSP1_1 TRAPPC6A MYL6 ZNF429 DGKE S100A4 CLPP STK10 TMC8 NOL12 HOTAIRM1 NCAPD3 S100PBP A2M-AS1 CX3CR1 FLNA RPL18 TLR7 UPF3B FAM198B AIMP1 PCBP2 C9orf142 SAP30 ARHGAP17 VPS39 TUBA4A ATP5G2 VIM-AS1 CYSLTR1 TFAM PANK3 SSR4 TMED10 CCNDBP1 CTDSP2 C19orf53 TSC22D3 RAB1B BCL2 POLR2L CHPT1 GNAS SERF2 TUBA1A ARPC1B CBX6 RALGDS DUSP2 CORO7 HADHA CALM1 EZR PSMB6 P4HB DZIP3 HIGD2A SUN2 EIF3K LRRC8D FUCA1 MBNL1 FKBP1A MT-ND2 PPP2R1A TCEB2 WIPF2 DIP2B PEA15 KLRK1 NDUFB9 CYTIP FAU S100A9 RAB7L1 PSMD10 NEK7 RNFT1 PNRC1 C19orf24 STIM2 BLCAP RPL10A P2RX1 CD180 TAF1D PRDM1 HNRNPC C15orf40 SASH3 SLC35A3 CRIP1_1 S100A6 CXCR3 LINC01116 CSK LYRM7 IFNG-AS1 PDIA3 RPS25 STAG3 LMO4 MSRB1 PA2G4 TMEM2 MAU2 PIEZO1 HCST UBALD2 NCF2 RPS16 ACSL6 ISG20 RAB18 FDX1 HCFC1 RPS7 SRSF7 LGALS1 BTG1 IL2RB MT-CO1 MXD4 SMAD5 GNB1 CXCR4 ALCAM CTSW SYTL3 DHRS7 NFATC3 GZMM DENND4B ATP5I NDUFA3 MANF DCP2 IGLL5 AP2M1 AGPAT1 TCEB3 TPP1 GNAI2

TABLE 8 The 119 genes out of the above 395 that were detected at the population level. DDIT4 STK10 FMNL1 AP2M1 EIF3K SYTL3 KIAA0020 SNORA76 PCBP2 FKBP5 FLOT2 MT-CO1 NDUFA3 ARL1 MT-ND3 CTDSP2 MRPL52 SH2D3C ATP5I FBXO32 UBA1 PCBP1 CORO7 PPIB MORF4L1 AGPAT1 GABARAP S100PBP RPS2 HIGD2A SAMD4B S1PR1 MIR142 TP53 TUBA4A ABCA2 MT-ND2 USP15 COX4I1 ST3GAL5 CASP2 PSMD10 CBFA2T2 NDUFB9 C16orf54 ANKRD49 DBP HELZ2 SASH3 RPS8 RNFT1 CALR GPATCH4 ARF6 OSBPL10 PA2G4 EIF4A2 CD180 CBX7 ZDHHC2 MOB3A PIK3CD RPS16 GPR65 CRIP1_1 INPPL1 RPS24 CYB561 CCND3 NFATC3 SMAP2 PDIA3 RPL39 MAP2K1 PAFAH1B2 NLRC5 HDAC5 MAT2B MAU2 TRAPPC6A SLA SH3BP1 PSMB6 GPR82 RSL1D1 ISG20 C19orf53 CLDND1 ARHGAP17 BLCAP RPL14 RBM3 BTG1 PPP2R1A HDAC10 HNRNPC CSK ORAI2 HSPA5 MT-ND4 CYTIP RPL28 LINC01116 SMAD5 OXNAD1 RPS14 RPL6 PNRC1 TFAM LMO4 MANF CHPT1 TXNIP TMEM106A TAF1D TSC22D3 HCFC1 MDH2 SLC35A3

TABLE 9 The 276 out of the 395 genes that were unique to cell subtype populations. TYROBP CDIP1 SELPLG DAZAP2 TIMP1 DNAJC13 FAM105A COX5B RSPH3 ZCCHC17 DPH3 P2RX5 SELL BCL3 NCR3 SGPP1 NEAT1 GBP4 RPS13 SMC1A AIDA RPS9 ITGB2 SPON2 PRMT1 TNRC18 ADIPOR1 NBEAL2 RPL19 PTBP1 MYL6 CAT RPL3 C16orf74 NDUFB8_1 CDC42SE2 TGFBR2 NOL12 WDR60 RPL29 NMD3 RPS23 LMO2 ZC2HC1A RPL18 YTHDC2 RPS6KA3 RASSF3 PRELID1 CELF2 TCF7 SAP30 ZNF429 BATF TCEAL8 SH3BP5 RPS15 TMC8 TUBA1A HOTAIRM1 DGKE FASLG WDFY2 RPL11 FLNA CALM1 TLR7 NCAPD3 ASGR1 ARHGDIA FPR1 C9orf142 TCEB2 PANK3 UPF3B NPDC1 F8A1 LINC00649 CYSLTR1 FAU RAB1B VPS39 CHD7 C3orf62 RPL13 SERF2 C19orf24 ARPC1B SSR4 GAA GSTP1 SREK1IP1 HADHA PRDM1 EZR BCL2 IGSF6 AC092580.4 SLC25A6 SUN2 CXCR3 LRRC8D CBX6 MSMO1 HDAC9 RPL7A S100A6 STAG3 WIPF2 FUCA1 RHOC MLLT6 LIMD1 RPS25 HCST S100A9 DIP2B S100A4 DNM2 MPEG1 PIEZO1 FDX1 STIM2 RAB7L1 FAM198B BCL6 CD55 RAB18 CTSW UBALD2 C15orf40 TMED10 CD99 LSP1_1 IL2RB KPNA6 MXD4 MSRB1 POLR2L TSPAN4 CX3CR1 ALCAM ANXA5 TCEB3 NCF2 RALGDS VAV3 VIM-AS1 DENND4B TNRC6B SESN1 RPS7 P4HB CLPP GNAS ERGIC3 NFE2 CHCHD10 DHRS7 MBNL1 A2M-AS1 CXCR4 GIMAP6 CEBPD ZBTB16 TPP1 PEA15 AIMP1 GZMM TFEB NKG7 SRGAP2 ISOC2 RPL10A ATP5G2 IGLL5 HAPLN3 PLBD1 ZFP36 RNF125 LYRM7 CCNDBP1 RPL36AL MT-ND5 RPL5 HSP90AB1 FUOM SRSF7 DUSP2 IFI16 AKNA AKAP13 ITGA4 GZMK GNB1 DZIP3 RC3H1 SEC16A EEF1B2 MAN2B2 PIM1 DCP2 FKBP1A RPL35A CYTH4 DNPH1 BRI3 CD44 GNAI2 KLRK1 RPS18 IRF4 CTSA C19orf10 ADRB2 TMEM258 NEK7 SERPINB1 TRIP11 CYSTM1 CRELD2 ATP8B2 ESYT1 P2RX1 MT-ND1 SSNA1 CELF1 RRAGC BSG PAXIP1-AS1 IFNG-AS1 SEC61B MYD88 TSPO GNB2L1 CTSH SNRPB TMEM2 SF1 OGDH HIVEP2 GZMH PABPC1 KLF6 ACSL6 HBB PPM1K EIF4B TRANK1 RPL8 PPP1R18 LGALS1 KLF4 TOR3A TBL1X SLFN11 SEC22C TKT MBD6 NCOA2 TMBIM6 GAPDH PSD4 LYPLA1 RPL32 POU2F2 VPS28 PSMA7 SPG21 MGEA5 RENBP AHNAK LINC00324 ZMIZ1 C3AR1 CHMP1B

TABLE 10 The 219 of the 395 genes that are druggable. TYROBP IFI16 HAPLN3 NFE2 ITGA4 ADRB2 CHMP1B COX5B MT-ND4 MT-ND5 CEBPD MAN2B2 ATP8B2 GPR82 NCR3 RC3H1 AKNA PLBD1 TP53 BSG BCL3 MT-ND3 SERPINB1 SEC16A RPL5 CASP2 CTSH PRELID1 PCBP1 MT-ND1 IRF4 ST3GAL5 CRELD2 C3AR1 WDFY2 ABCA2 SF1 TRIP11 AKAP13 GNB2L1 SELL GSTP1 CBFA2T2 FKBP5 S1PR1 DNPH1 HELZ2 SMC1A ORAI2 LMO2 HBB COX4I1 CTSA GZMH ADIPOR1 HDAC9 EIF4A2 KLF4 MYD88 CELF1 GAPDH FASLG MLLT6 GPR65 PPIB PPM1K TSPO OSBPL10 ASGR1 DNM2 RPS15 USP15 NCOA2 HIVEP2 PIK3CD UBA1 OXNAD1 MAT2B RENBP POU2F2 DBP PSMA7 CHD7 BCL6 FPR1 CALR MAP2K1 TBL1X ZMIZ1 GAA CD99 HSPA5 INPPL1 CLDND1 MOB3A CCND3 MSMO1 VAV3 SLC25A6 RSPH3 HDAC10 PRMT1 TIMP1 TUBA4A CLPP TXNIP SGPP1 SELPLG CAT P2RX5 TMED10 AIMP1 RPL7A ITGB2 SPON2 PAFAH1B2 RPS6KA3 RALGDS CCNDBP1 LIMD1 PTBP1 TFAM SH3BP1 BATF P4HB DUSP2 CD55 TGFBR2 TUBA1A TLR7 DGKE MBNL1 DZIP3 STK10 TCF7 CALM1 PANK3 BCL2 PEA15 FKBP1A CX3CR1 TMC8 TCEB2 ARPC1B PSMB6 PSMD10 KLRK1 CTDSP2 FLNA PRDM1 EZR FUCA1 LYRM7 NEK7 GNAS CYSLTR1 CXCR3 LRRC8D CSK PA2G4 P2RX1 HIGD2A HADHA STAG3 S100A9 MSRB1 GNB1 SLC35A3 MT-ND2 PPP2R1A HCST STIM2 SMAD5 NFATC3 TMEM2 NDUFB9 PNRC1 FDX1 LMO4 DHRS7 TMEM258 ACSL6 CD180 TAF1D MT-CO1 NDUFA3 MANF HDAC5 LGALS1 PDIA3 PIEZO1 CTSW TCEB3 TPP1 KLF6 BTG1 IL2RB ATP5I SESN1 RNF125 PPP1R18 CXCR4 ALCAM AGPAT1 ZBTB16 GZMK TKT GZMM AP2M1 KPNA6 ZFP36 PIM1 LYPLA1 IGLL5 TFEB ANXA5 HSP90AB1 CD44 MGEA5

TABLE 11 The 1284 individually-varying genes. RPS4Y1 EBPL LGALS3BP ALKBH7 MYBL1 GK5 CD44 HLA-DRB1 THBS1 CD247 CLEC4D PTPRE CDK12 TMC6 RETN RPS9 H1FX HIGD2A ITGAX VAPA DYNLRB1 SCGB3A1 CROCCP2 GPX4 CX3CR1 DTHD1 LONP2 A1BG EIF1AY CAPN12 KIAA0040 TNFRSF18 LINC00998 CANX FAM104A DDX3Y SMARCA2 TNFRSF1B VPS16 ALPK1 IRF7 SLC20A1 MZT2A MARCO GIMAP2 ZNF22 IL2RG MYO1E CD9 RPS26 DAZAP2 LPIN1 PTGIR S100A9 GBP5 NIPSNAP3A XIST SKAP2 TCF7 PPM1F AKAP17A SF1 VTI1B HLA-DQA2 RCBTB2 CXXC5 IRF8 SH3KBP1 DDRGK1 B4GALT1 MYOM2 ITM2A ZNF259 TTC39B GCNT1 H2AFZ GCC2 RP11-81H14.2 SULF2 MAN1A1 FAIM3 ARPC5 GRAMD1A TMEM123 GNLY NCF1 AKR1C3 RPLP2 MRPL54 CD97 ABHD17A KANSL1-AS1 CHURC1 SLC38A1 NFKB1 CAPN2 RPS8 FAM46C LTA4H GBP3 TYW3 GOLGA8A CISD1 TRIM28 RPS20 PRMT2 ATHL1 SLFN5 ARID5B ARHGAP9 AP3B1 USP10 CCZ1B NDUFS5 TSPAN2 HNRNPU ITM2B STT3B G3BP1 CHI3L2 SCN3A SAR1A TMEM66 YEATS4 NAP1L1 DAB2 CD151 ATP6V1G1 SOD2 JDP2 GALNT10 SAP30 PLXND1 LILRA3 CENPK HLA-DPA1 CD74 ZNF609 SCP2 RPS3 CHCHD2 SYNGR1 EFHD2 SSBP4 ARCN1 PLEKHJ1 ABI3 EIF1AX BCL7C FKBP11 CCR6 RP1-3J17.3 ATP6V1E1 RNF144B TIMM10 YWHAQ SPATS2L GZMA TNFRSF25 PCMTD2 CSNK1A1 SIGLEC14 LTBP3 LYSMD2 BIRC3 LST1 ECHDC1 WHAMM FCER1G STXBP2 MATK PWP1 KDM5C SUPT4H1 IVNS1ABP RPS4X EIF4E3 VDAC1 ZSCAN18 APC PLAC8 RAP2A DIP2A MERTK ATP5G1 M6PR COA6 PPIL3 CDC25B SNHG8 AP1S2 SH2B2 BACE2 PTTG1 CIB1 MTPN HLA-C RPL28 DDX60L ITGAM COL6A2 LCP1 EIF3E AK5 CD55 GNG2 PPAPDC1B DTD1 SPTBN1 TMEM50A FCGR3A CFD HES4 EEF2 GSTP1 SUB1 PPM1M DAPK1 EBP FCRLA PLEKHA2 NPC1 CBLB AKR1A1 CNN2 PDE4D COPRS RNF130 NDUFB10 MPC1 PRR5L RPS10 CD3G RPS12 KCNE3 CFLAR VMP1 LTB FOLR3 APEX1 EIF6 IFITM2 ASF1A KIAA1033 CD86 CCZ1 TRAT1 MT-ND5 MYL12B TSPAN4 METTL15 METRNL VSTM1 NOP10 SNRPD2 POLR2L GABARAPL1 CD8B UBXN7 PPA1 LILRB1 PDGFD LINC00152 BRD4 COPE RGCC CHPT1 RABAC1 PARP14 ESYT2 CHN2 PCBD1 LMAN2 CD52 LGALS9B BEX4 KIAA0355 RPL5 RSAD2 RAB9A CBWD2 CEP78 MFHAS1 ADK CD40LG VAMP4 FKBP5 TTC39C KCNAB2 MGLL LRRN3 EZR PRR5 XRCC4 CCDC167 NPDC1 GZMB GDI2 DNAJB9 CCND3 MANBA SMDT1 MX1 PADI4 SMIM20 CD164 IL6R MIDN RPL36AL S1PR5 IGFBP7 LY86 RAN SLC43A2 MAP3K5 RIC3 CBWD1 AGTRAP NBPF12 STX11 DUSP2 TRA2B CCL5 NABP1 FAM129A PPP2R5C SLFN12L MGA NPAT MT2A SH3BGRL3 DNAJC15 PRKCA CA5B FAM3C TTC9 EIF5A FLNA IGJ CD93 CHMP4B DENND2D COX5B NAPRT1 TNFSF14 S100A8 RNASE2 TPTEP1 TRAPPC2 CDR2 MT-CYB PLXNC1 C12orf57 OSGEP BTF3L4 HIVEP3 SLC25A28 CLEC12A ARPC1B PSME2 PPIB SYTL3 RP11-25K19.1 MAPRE1 NSG1 DDT NCR1 ZNF439 METTL9 SNX9 FOXO1 RPL27A SNAPC5 PARP8 SRA1 TMEM173 SAMSN1 OST4 LITAF NPIPB5 GLRX CLEC7A RCAN3 TIMP1 POM121 LAIR2 GYPC FAR1 BCAS4 44261 MYL6 EMP3 MXRA7 CCL4 C3AR1 CACUL1 AC006129.2 HSPA6 LYN FRG1B IL7R HLA-DPB1 SFT2D2 PLOD1 LIMD1 BTK LIPA RRP7A MFSD10 ZYX PLD4 ANKRD26 CD5 BIN1 CPNE1 RPH3A HENMT1 B4GALT4 APOBR C11orf21 HLA-E IFI44 CD99 PLXDC2 CASP10 FLNB SNTB2 LYZ ID2 BPGM GRK6 ACSL6 LRRC8C IMP4 EMR1 KLRG1 RGS10 NCK2 OS9 IL10RA REL HLA-DRA IFI6 PNRC1 CHD7 RBM43 RPS27A KCTD20 TNFSF13B TMEM18 FURIN PDXDC1 NUP88 ITGA6 CAMK2D MYL12A XRRA1 SNRNP27 HK2 44256 MRFAP1 FAM126A SUMF2 NRG1 KIAA0930 HN1 RP11-660L16.2 SESN3 GFPT1 PPT1 NGFRAP1 TMEM14B KDM4B NUMB NUTM2A-AS1 VASP ARL17A ORMDL3 PTEN RP11-343N15.5 MT-CO3 RPL15 C7orf55 CD300C NELL2 ANK3 TNNI2 TXNIP F5 CBX6 FIBP ANXA4 BMP2K SPCS2 TXLNG MID1IP1 TKT GTF2H2 PPIA F13A1 C16orf74 GPR114 MAP3K7CL JAZF1 ARHGAP24 S100A10 COMTD1 CAST ZFX IDH3G SOS1 BEX2 ISG15 CEPT1 C14orf1 EIF2AK2 AKAP7 CCM2 AC079767.4 TTC38 RILPL2 CD63 RASSF2 HOOK2 LAMTOR2 IL32 FABP5 GMPR2 SERPINB1 RPL24 FAM102A HMGN3 GTPBP6 RTKN2 IFI27L2 DBI SNX10 ODF2L HCLS1 VIM DSE ELP5 ABHD2 CD72 MSRB1 PBXIP1 RPS7 GIMAP1 SYAP1 OSBPL8 AOAH PIN4 DCTN3 ZRSR2 MT-ND3 JPX RHOA ZEB2 SLAMF6 TMEM55A HLA-A CCDC109B CLK1 TNNT1 SNCA SORL1 COMMD10 SERPINB6 RPL12 FAM134B RHOQ RPS24 CTSS IGFLR1 EIF2S3 HEBP1 PLP2 MARCKSL1 FADS1 ATP11B CAPG LINC00649 DSTN RASA4 ATP5G2 YWHAB ZNF274 C15orf57 HLA-B TSPO SH3TC1 AKAP10 SAMHD1 RAB37 C1orf21 HLA-DQB1 CTD-2006K23.1 SAMD9L CNIH4 EIF3G RPL21 ATM USP53 CLIC1 CD37 C16orf87 RECQL FAM214B ABRACL RASAL3 BST1 GPR56 KLRC2 MDM2 SOX4 TNFAIP3 CSTB SH3BP5 ASAP1 BLOC1S1 RINL ZNF626 KLRB1 TMEM8A LINC00969 NDUFA3 ACTR2 SDF2L1 GRINA TNFSF12 SULT1A1 MACROD2 SH2D2A RAP1B MBOAT1 RAP2B ZNF787 LGALS1 CD48 KIAA1598 GFOD1 GUK1 FN3KRP FDFT1 C8orf59 SIRPB1 WARS JUP SRSF5 CLDND1 HEXDC LDLR PPP2R5A IRAK3 VNN2 EIF4G2 LOH12CR1 TGFBR3 AL592183.1 FASLG RPL8 VNN3 CTSA SNORD3A SMCO4 NAAA ARL6IP5 FAM195A UBQLN2 MS4A7 ARL14EP SLC4A7 THEMIS2 RPL10A ARL4C GNPTAB UBE2R2 PDCD6 OSTF1 KCNMA1 TMSB10 RGS3 LPCAT2 RP11-1398P2.1 MRPS14 RAB7L1 MT-ATP6 GLCCI1 EVI2B CHMP3 PABPC1 CYP27A1 TRIM44 PSMD5-AS1 CDA CYTIP FUT7 ZNF814 CAMK1 FOXN2 GIMAP4 TYROBP GNB4 ANPEP IL2RB STK32C TXNRD1 APOBEC3A PSMB9 PTPN22 ANXA5 SOD1 EIF3F ASCL2 PSTPIP2 S100A12 CD200 PTPN6 SPG20 RPL7A ZBTB38 CD3E MRPL41 PTGER2 SELL PAWR DDOST JMJD1C HOPX SFT2D1 MDH2 RNF157 HOMER3 TMEM167A ITGB1BP1 LGALS2 PLA2G16 TUFM LL22NC03-2H8.5 ADRB2 SRP54 BACH2 RPS13 ALOX5AP C1orf228 NDUFB7 XAF1 JAKMIP2 CHMP4A GZMH PLIN2 C19orf59 IL6ST ISCU CCR2 FOXP1 LINC00667 TOMM7 N4BP2 PYCR2 COMMD6 S100A11 IQGAP1 EPB41L3 SYTL2 RPLP1 POLM HNMT HDDC2 CCDC152 MT1F RSL24D1 DRAM2 CREM ATP5E FCRL3 ATP6V0A1 CTSW S100A6 LEF1 PRICKLE1 DDX55 EIF2S2 SYTL1 CCL3 S100A4 HLA-F ETFB MAPKAPK2 ACYP2 SH3BGRL PIM1 TAGLN PABPC4 C12orf75 OXR1 SATB1 BLOC1S2 MT-ND4 TRABD2A TMIGD2 RPS6 SIGLEC10 HMGB2 CBR4 MGST2 SYPL1 LINC00402 MIEN1 RCSD1 CCDC50 ZNF385A CDC42 CCDC28B CSGALNACT1 LY6E AMICA1 NIPAL3 MED16 CST3 NME4 BATF CD320 C17orf89 GIMAP7 CD53 CD300A CES1 IL3RA U2AF1L4 TMSB4X OAZ1 CARD16 RTN3 PROK2 SLFN12 LSP1_1 DCXR RPP38 ADD1 TESPA1 LEPROTL1 TMEM204 ORAI1 NMRK1 VCL COX16 TCL1A IPCEF1 VAMP2 MT-ND1 THOC3 METTL21A DDX58 RPS5 MRPL42 VAMP5 QPCT IFIT1 ADRBK2 LILRA5 TRAPPC4 ASAH1 BCL2A1 SLC12A7 PTPN18 PLCL2 PTGDS CD101 CRISPLD2 COX8A SETBP1 EHD1 RAD51C SEL1L3 TPGS2 PTPLAD2 MT-CO2 ZFAND5 TBXAS1 COTL1 RPL13 FCRL5 CLECL1 CXCL16 SRD5A3 MFN2 BAZ2B SUCLG1 CRIP2 NDUFB2 CD58 PLCB1 NDUFB8_1 LIMA1 CD180 PEX6 BCAT1 POP7 CCSER2 UBE2D1 CCDC107 CATSPER1 S100B OASL MTERFD2 ITGA4 CD7 GBP1 MAPKAPK3 PPDPF ZFAS1 KLF2 LAP3 CKLF AHNAK PGAM1 CD2 ATP6V1D CLIC3 MCTP2 INSIG1 GGPS1 SMAP2 ITGB2 NDFIP1 RP11-1143G9.4 NMI RP11-222K16.2 RNF166 RAMP1 EPHX2 IL10RB LRRC47 KNSTRN SPON2 COG5 MKNK1 LYPD2 EPSTI1 LDLRAP1 CDC40 APMAP RP11-83A24.2 DDX42 NUDT2 CPNE2 CD8A HIATL1 TP53I11 POU2F2 STOM C1orf162 ODC1 RPS16 HERPUD1 MRPL45 PCNT CERK NAIP XBP1 PLEK DUSP22 LY96 PLEKHF1 VCP NDUFA12 EPHB6 GIMAP6 ANKRD28 CCDC14 PLBD1 MAP3K13 FCGR2B GCA SSH2 44441 CYP1B1 UFL1 AC004951.6 C10orf128 PLCG2 RPS18 PTPRCAP TOB1 AIF1 UPF1 RPL14 DNAJC1 RNASEH2C 44257 TAF7 ZNF516 TLR8 CYB5A MYO1G PPP1R2 ARHGAP15 ZNF302 LNPEP PRDX3 CMC1 C6orf48 TMEM258 STARD3NL MIB2 BHLHE40 CD36 KLRD1 CMTM6 RP11-362F19.1 DHRS4L2 SPOCK2 DNAJB6 WWC3 FAM101B CISD3 MGME1 PHPT1 MGST3 AIM2 GTF3C6 LYST PPP2R2B TAPBPL C9orf78 INADL ECE1 SRSF10_1 TESC ITGB2-AS1 WAC-AS1 B2M C10orf32 SRGN SEC24B FGFBP2 PTGER4 ANXA2 AKIRIN1 PAICS NUCB2 FUOM ZNF107 PADI2 PTPN4 HSD17B10 CTDSP1 TSPAN3 ARL11 ERAP2 LPAR6 GM2A MAL RXRA CXorf21 MTDH ITGB1 PITPNA MT-ND6 IMMT STAT1 SETX RASSF1 DZIP3 SNHG7 CDC42EP3 SLC11A1 CTSC MTHFD1 WDR41 STMN3 REEP5 ZFP36L2 LGALS9 NCK1 PILRB TMEM120B C12orf43 MRPL44 APOBEC3G ID3 CSTA FBL SLC36A4 CD27 RAB27A TXN SLA B4GALT3 HERC5 RYBP ZNF207 PDIA6 CARHSP1 IER3 IP6K2 EPS8 KDM5A IFI44L MAP3K8 SNN TM2D3 ARHGEF11 GRAP2 TNRC6A TNFSF10 ARPC3 VPS35 ANXA1 RHOC FLT3LG IDH2 FHIT TUBA1B RPL22L1 LINC00909 CLN5 MMP24-AS1 IRF2 IFNGR2 SEC62 ITGB7 CKB RAB28 FAM96B GALNT2 YBEY RNASE6 SH2D1B GAPDH RP11-664D1.1 MORC3 HEATR5B SLC35D2 LYAR UBE2L3 NOP56 KLRC4 MALAT1 TPST2 TMEM71 FGL2 BNIP3L UBE2E2 FES JOSD1 AC013264.2 IFIT3 TMEM243 TBCD TMEM176B KLF3 TMEM63A PRDX4 RNF149 NKG7 KDM6A SASH1 SOCS1 SCIMP SMARCA5 GS1-251I9.4 C9orf142 C12orf23 TAGLN2 SFSWAP MANEA PITPNA-AS1 BTLA NOSIP SSR4 SESTD1 CST7 LACTB LINC00116 MTSS1 FGR GSPT2 C2CD5 SURF1 CD300LF VPS26B CD226 HOXB2 YIF1A VMA21 NBPF1 OXNAD1 NUBP2 TSTD1 SERF2 CARD8 UTRN KHDRBS1 PLEKHA5 CCR1 MT1X AP2S1 MYO15B CYBA HAPLN3 TSPAN32 MAGT1 PRSS23 POLR2J3 LAIR1 NDUFA6 LINC00662 EMR2 FTL CNTNAP2 PTMS TADA3 ZNF83 TBX21 BTG2 AUP1 HLA-DQA1 LTB4R CUL1 NKTR ACSL1 PRNP RNF216 KDELR2 PRKX LYRM7 DISC1 PDCD6IP DENND3 RNASET2 CCDC88A CLIC4 CCR7 BTN3A2 SIK1 MAP4K4 WIPI2 FCRL6 ADH5 CEP85L GPATCH11 F8A1 RBMX RPS28 CD96 MYLIP POMC TSPYL2 TMEM156 TMEM144 THEMIS ITGB3BP MGMT ACTN1 AC159540.1 RPL36 RARRES3 CTSL DDX3X OSCAR FAM26F LYRM4 ABTB1 PDE3B FCER2 TYMP CALM1 PRDX1 ZC3H8 FAS CTSH SIGIRR ABLIM1 MEAF6 PTPN2 LZIC IFITM3 GZMM PRF1 TNFRSF13B BOLA3 FAM63B

TABLE 12 Top 250 individual genes for pathway analysis. RPS4Y1 VSTM1 ARHGAP24 LINC00667 KLRD1 DDX3X PDE4D HLA-DRB1 PPA1 BEX2 EPB41L3 FAM101B FCER2 CD3G RETN CHPT1 AC079767.4 MT1F LYST CTSH APEX1 SCGB3A1 CD52 IL32 CTSW TESC IFITM3 TRAT1 EIF1AY CBWD2 GTPBP6 CCL3 FGFBP2 EBPL NOP10 DDX3Y TTC39C VIM PIM1 ZNF107 THBS1 LILRB1 MZT2A CCDC167 RPS7 MT-ND4 ERAP2 RPS9 RABAC1 RPS26 SMDT1 ZRSR2 MGST2 ITGB1 CROCCP2 LGALS9B XIST RPL36AL HLA-A CDC42 DZIP3 CAPN12 CEP78 HLA-DQA2 RIC3 SERPINB6 CST3 STMN3 SMARCA2 KCNAB2 MYOM2 CCL5 EIF2S3 CD300A C12orf43 MARCO NPDC1 RP11-81H14.2 MT2A LINC00649 RTN3 CD27 DAZAP2 MX1 GNLY EIF5A HLA-B TESPA1 ZNF207 SKAP2 S1PR5 KANSL1-AS1 NAPRT1 HLA-DQB1 TCL1A IFI44L RCBTB2 CBWD1 LTA4H MT-CYB USP53 RPS5 TNFSF10 ITM2A NABP1 PRMT2 CLEC12A RASAL3 TRAPPC4 FHIT SULF2 SH3BGRL3 CCZ1B NSG1 CSTB CD101 IFNGR2 NCF1 FLNA CHI3L2 RPL27A TMEM8A TPGS2 YBEY CHURC1 TNFSF14 CD151 LITAF SULT1A1 FCRL5 SLC35D2 GBP3 PLXNC1 LILRA3 LAIR2 LGALS1 CRIP2 TMEM71 ATHL1 ARPC1B CHCHD2 MXRA7 C8orf59 PEX6 IFIT3 NDUFS5 DDT EIF1AX FRG1B LDLR S100B RNF149 SCN3A SNAPC5 TIMM10 LIPA AL592183.1 PPDPF GS1-251I9.4 ATP6V1G1 NPIPB5 SIGLEC14 BIN1 NAAA CD2 BTLA CENPK GYPC FCER1G HLA-E THEMIS2 ITGB2 MTSS1 SYNGR1 CCL4 RPS4X LYZ KCNMA1 EPHX2 CD226 BCL7C IL7R DIP2A EMR1 MT-ATP6 LYPD2 TSTD1 YWHAQ RRP7A SNHG8 HLA-DRA PSMD5-AS1 NUDT2 MT1X LTBP3 CPNE1 HLA-C TNFSF13B GIMAP4 C1orf162 PRSS23 STXBP2 IFI44 AK5 MYL12A APOBEC3A NAIP CNTNAP2 EIF4E3 ID2 FCGR3A SUMF2 PSTPIP2 NDUFA12 HLA-DQA1 MERTK KLRG1 DAPK1 PPT1 CD3E FCGR2B KDELR2 AP1S2 IFI6 CNN2 ARL17A HOPX C10orf128 CCDC88A RPL28 TMEM18 RPS10 CD300C LGALS2 RPL14 FCRL6 CD55 XRRA1 FOLR3 FIBP RPS13 CYB5A CD96 CFD CCZ1 GTF2H2 GZMH CMC1 ITGB3BP EBP

TABLE 13 Top 250 diurnal genes for pathway analysis. DDIT4 LSP1_1 SAMD4B PIEZO1 CLDND1 CEBPD WIPF2 TYROBP STK10 KLF4 RAB18 HDAC10 AKAP13 STIM2 COX5B CX3CR1 PPIB IL2RB RPL28 EEF1B2 S100A9 RPS9 PCBP2 MBD6 ALCAM SELPLG DNPH1 LINC01116 NCR3 VIM-AS1 HBB DENND4B NEAT1 CYSTM1 HNRNPC SNORA76 CTDSP2 RPL32 AP2M1 SPON2 CTSA LMO4 RPS2 GNAS USP15 ERGIC3 SAP30 CELF1 UBALD2 MT-ND3 HIGD2A RENBP FLOT2 NOL12 TSPO HCFC1 PCBP1 CORO7 C16orf54 SH2D3C RPL18 HIVEP2 MXD4 ABCA2 NDUFB9 CALR GIMAP6 TSC22D3 DBP SYTL3 RPL19 MT-ND2 RPL39 TFEB MYL6 EIF4B TCEB3 CBFA2T2 RNFT1 RSPH3 HAPLN3 TFAM ARF6 NDUFA3 CDC42SE2 CRIP1_1 INPPL1 MT-ND5 TUBA1A VPS28 SESN1 LMO2 CD180 CBX7 AKNA CALM1 TMBIM6 CHCHD10 RPS8 PDIA3 CDIP1 SEC16A EIF3K TBL1X ZBTB16 CELF2 MAU2 SGPP1 CYTH4 TCEB2 MOB3A FBXO32 RPS15 ISG20 ITGB2 MORF4L1 FAU LINC00324 SRGAP2 GPR65 RPL36AL PTBP1 TRIP11 C19orf24 DAZAP2 GABARAP EIF4A2 BTG1 TGFBR2 IRF4 PRDM1 PRMT1 ZFP36 SMAP2 GZMM ZC2HC1A SSNA1 STAG3 GBP4 HSP90AB1 MAT2B CXCR4 TCF7 S1PR1 CXCR3 DPH3 ITGA4 RSL1D1 IGLL5 TRAPPC6A COX4I1 HCST CAT MAN2B2 RPL11 IFI16 TMC8 MYD88 FDX1 SH3BP1 TP53 FPR1 RPL35A FLNA ANKRD49 MT-CO1 CYB561 CASP2 LINC00649 RPL6 C9orf142 GPATCH4 CTSW PAFAH1B2 CRELD2 RPL13 TMEM106A CYSLTR1 OGDH ATP5I ZNF429 BRI3 SREK1IP1 MT-ND4 C19orf53 PPM1K AGPAT1 YTHDC2 C19orf10 RBM3 RC3H1 SERF2 TOR3A KPNA6 WDR60 RRAGC HSPA5 SERPINB1 HADHA ZDHHC2 ANXA5 HOTAIRM1 GNB2L1 TXNIP RPS18 SUN2 RPS24 MIR142 TLR7 HELZ2 RPS14 FMNL1 PPP2R1A NCOA2 TNRC6B PANK3 GZMH SLC25A6 SEC61B CYTIP POU2F2 NFE2 RAB1B TRANK1 RPL7A MT-ND1 PNRC1 MAP2K1 PLBD1 ARHGAP17 SLFN11 LIMD1 SF1 TAF1D SLA RPL5 LRRC8D GAPDH MPEG1 FKBP5 S100A6 AHNAK NKG7 EZR CD55 MRPL52 RPS25 ZCCHC17 ST3GAL5 ARPC1B

Altogether, these data demonstrated that small volume capillary blood samples can be used for gene profiling, including immune profiling.

Additional Considerations

In at least some of the previously described embodiments, one or more elements used in an embodiment can interchangeably be used in another embodiment unless such a replacement is not technically feasible. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various other omissions, additions and modifications may be made to the methods and structures described above without departing from the scope of the claimed subject matter. All such modifications and changes are intended to fall within the scope of the subject matter, as defined by the appended claims.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that, for this and other processes and methods disclosed herein, the functions performed in the processes and methods can be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined steps and operations are only provided as examples, and some of the steps and operations can be optional, combined into fewer steps and operations, or expanded into additional steps and operations without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiments.

With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Accordingly, phrases such as “a device configured to” are intended to include one or more recited devices. Such one or more recited devices can also be collectively configured to carry out the stated recitations. For example, “a processor configured to carry out recitations A, B and C can include a first processor configured to carry out recitation A and working in conjunction with a second processor configured to carry out recitations B and C. Any reference to “or” herein is intended to encompass “and/or” unless otherwise stated.

It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into sub-ranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 articles refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 articles. Similarly, a group having 1-5 articles refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 articles, and so forth.

It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

It is to be understood that not necessarily all objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment described herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that certain embodiments may be configured to operate in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

All of the processes described herein may be embodied in, and fully automated via, software code modules executed by a computing system that includes one or more computers or processors. The code modules may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other computer storage device. Some or all the methods may be embodied in specialized computer hardware.

Many other variations than those described herein will be apparent from this disclosure. For example, depending on the embodiment, certain acts, events, or functions of any of the algorithms described herein can be performed in a different sequence, can be added, merged, or left out altogether (for example, not all described acts or events are necessary for the practice of the algorithms). Moreover, in certain embodiments, acts or events can be performed concurrently, for example through multi-threaded processing, interrupt processing, or multiple processors or processor cores or on other parallel architectures, rather than sequentially. In addition, different tasks or processes can be performed by different machines and/or computing systems that can function together.

The various illustrative logical blocks and modules described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented or performed by a machine, such as a processing unit or processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A processor can be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor can be a controller, microcontroller, or state machine, combinations of the same, or the like. A processor can include electrical circuitry configured to process computer-executable instructions. In another embodiment, a processor includes an FPGA or other programmable device that performs logic operations without processing computer-executable instructions. A processor can also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, for example a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration. Although described herein primarily with respect to digital technology, a processor may also include primarily analog components. For example, some or all of the signal processing algorithms described herein may be implemented in analog circuitry or mixed analog and digital circuitry. A computing environment can include any type of computer system, including, but not limited to, a computer system based on a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor, a portable computing device, a device controller, or a computational engine within an appliance, to name a few.

Any process descriptions, elements or blocks in the flow diagrams described herein and/or depicted in the attached figures should be understood as potentially representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or elements in the process. Alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments described herein in which elements or functions may be deleted, executed out of order from that shown, or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

It should be emphasized that many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, the elements of which are to be understood as being among other acceptable examples. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims. 

1.-17. (canceled)
 18. A method for single cell sequencing comprising: providing a plurality of capillary blood samples obtained from a plurality of subjects; isolating immune cells from each of the plurality of samples to obtain isolated immune cells; pooling the isolated immune cells of the plurality of subjects to obtain pooled immune cells of the plurality of subjects; performing single cell sequencing on the pooled immune cells of the plurality of subjects to generate single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects; and determining a single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects using the single cell sequence data of the plurality of subjects and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the plurality of subjects.
 19. The method of claim 18, comprising: diluting the plurality of samples to obtain a plurality of diluted sample, wherein isolating the immune cells from each of the plurality of samples to obtain isolated immune cells comprises: isolating the immune cells from each of the plurality of diluted samples to obtain isolated immune cells.
 20. (canceled)
 21. (canceled)
 22. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of samples is collected from the plurality of subjects within one week of each other.
 23. The method of claim 18, wherein isolating the immune cells comprises isolating the immune cells with gradient centrifugation.
 24. The method claim 18, wherein the immune cells comprise peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
 25. The method of claim 18, wherein the single cell sequencing comprises: ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or DNA-based sequencing, multimaps sequencing and/or exosome sequencing, and/or wherein the single cell profile comprises: an RNA expression profile, a protein expression profile, a multiomics profile, a DNA profile, and/or an exome profile.
 26. The method of claim 18, wherein said determining comprises: performing sample demultiplexing of the single cell sequencing data of the plurality of subjects using SNPs of the plurality of subjects to determine the single cell profile of each of the plurality of subjects.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein performing sample demultiplexing comprises: classifying single cell sequencing reads with an identical cell in the single cell sequencing data as being from a cell of a sample obtained from a subject based on (i) SNPs present in one or more of the single cell sequencing reads and (ii) optionally, SNPs of the one or more subjects of the plurality of subjects, optionally wherein the SNPs of one or each or the one or more subject are determined by bulk sequencing and/or single cell sequencing, and optionally wherein said bulk sequencing and/or single cell sequencing is performed using a low volume, capillary blood sample obtained from the subject.
 28. (canceled)
 29. The method of claim 18, wherein one, one or more, or each of the plurality of samples has a volume of about 20 μl to about 500 μl.
 30. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of samples is collected by the subject from whom the sample is obtained from.
 31. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of samples is collected in a non-clinical setting and/or out of clinic.
 32. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of samples is collected using a device comprising microneedles, a device comprising microfluidic channels, a push-button collection device, or a combination thereof.
 33. The method of claim 18, wherein each of the plurality of samples is collected from a deltoid or a finger of one of the plurality of subjects from which the sample is collected.
 34. The method of claim 19, wherein said diluting comprises a 1:2 to 1:50 dilution.
 35. The method of claim 19, wherein said diluting comprises diluting each of the plurality of samples having a volume of about 100 μl to about 1 ml.
 36. The method of claim 19, wherein said diluting comprises diluting using a dilution reagent.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the dilution reagent comprises a buffer and/or a growth medium.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein a pH of the buffer is about 7.4, wherein the buffer comprises sodium chloride, potassium chloride, disodium phosphate, monopotassium phosphate, or a combination thereof, wherein a concentration of sodium chloride is about 137 mmol/L, a concentration of potassium chloride is about 2.7 mmol/L, a concentration of disodium phosphate is about 10 mmol/L, and/or wherein a concentration of monopotassium phosphate is about 1.8 mmol/L, and/or wherein the buffer comprises phosphate-buffered saline.
 39. (canceled)
 40. The method of claim 18, wherein said isolating comprises isolating the immune cells with gradient centrifugation using a density medium with a density of about 1 g/ml to about 1.5 g/ml, wherein a duration of the density centrifugation is about 10 mins to about 30 mins, and/or wherein a speed of the density centrifugation is about 500 RPM to about 1500 RPM.
 41. The method of claim 18, said isolating comprises: removing a layer after gradient centrifugation comprising cPBMCs or immune cells, optionally wherein a volume of the layer is about 500 μl to about 1500 μl; and/or removing red blood cells from the layer removed, optionally wherein removing the red blood cells from the layer removed comprises: lysing the red blood cells. 42.-50. (canceled) 